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October 7, 2005 |
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THE ALLOCATION OF SR4.7 BILLION FOR THE EXPANSION PROJECT. THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES ORDERS THE INCREASE OF THE SALARIES OF SAUDIS WORKING AT THE GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS, AT CIVIL AND MILITARY POSTS, AS WELL AS PENSIONERS, BY 15 PERCENT STARTING FROM THE MONTH OF RAMADAN. THE KING TO EDUCATIONALISTS: RAISE OUR GENERATIONS ON LOVE OF GOOD, JUSTICE AND THE SERVICE OF THE RELIGION AND THE COUNTRY. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, , issued an order to Prince Muqrin Ibn Abdul Aziz, Emir of Madina and Chairman of the Executive Committee for Developing the Central Area in Madina, and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance, to complete the remaining works in the Prophet's Mosque expansion project at a cost of SR4.7 billion. The works will include the installation of 182 umbrellas to cover the open areas of the Mosque, construction of the eastern courtyard to accommodate 70, 000 worshipers, construction of entrances and exits for cars, completion of the King Faisal Road and completion of streets, pavements and permanent lighting in the Central Area. King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz issued directives that these important projects be executed speedily and perfectly. The umbrellas will provide protection to worshipers and visitors. A drainage system will be constructed and the umbrellas will open automatically when needed. Each umbrella will cover an area of 576 square meters. When completed, over 200, 000 worshipers will benefit from them. The eastern courtyard, which measures 37, 000 square meters, will have parking lots for cars and buses. The car park will have a capacity of 420 cars and 70 big buses. The works will also include construction of toilets mostly for women and areas for arrival and departure of passengers from cars and buses. Three tunnels linking the parking lots with the King Faisal Road (First Ring Road) will be constructed. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General joined Friday prayers at the Prophet's Mosque along with a large number of faithful including foreign pilgrims. In his Juma sermon, Sheikh Salah Al-Bedair, imam of the mosque, emphasized the importance of security. "Security remains with religion and the religion gets stronger with security," the imam told the faithful. Sheikh Bedair also urged Saudis to obey their leadership as long as it does not ask them to do anything that is prohibited by God. He also quoted a Hadith of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon) that stressed the importance of "Baia" or the pledge allegiance to the leader. Millions of Saudis across the Kingdom have already pledged their allegiance to the country's new king and crown prince following King Fahd's death on Aug. 1. Many tribal delegations also met them to voice their support. "Unity is the crux of wisdom while disunity is the basis of destruction," the imam pointed out. Sheikh Bedair also urged Muslims to adhere to their faith in this age of rapid changes and temptations. "As long as you hold firm to the Qur'an and Sunnah you will not stray," the imam said quoting a Saying of the Prophet. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud paid a visit to King Abdullah Endowment for His Parents in Al Madinah Al Munawarah. During the visit, the King was accompanied by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. At the venue, King Abdullah was received by Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Madinah; members of the Council of Trustees of King Abdullah Endowment for His Parents; Prince Dr. Bandar Ibn Salman Ibn Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor to the king; Sheikh Abdul Bari Al Thibaiti; Ibrahim Al Tasan, Chief of the king's Special Affairs ; Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Al Mihaisen; Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al Hossein and Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Jarboo. During the visit, the king was also accompanied by Prince Mit'eb Ibn Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs; Prince Turki Ibn Abdul Aziz; Prince Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, Special Advisor to the king; Prince Mamdouh Ibn Abdul Aziz; Prince Abdul Majeed Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Makkah Region; princes, ministers and a number of officials. On arrival, the king was received by Madinah Governor Prince Muqrin and members of the endowment's board of trustees. The endowment, located in the north of Madinah's central region, includes a 21-story building. It houses a large hotel with 1,127 rooms, of which 180 are overlooking the Prophet's Mosque, and 84 furnished apartments with a total of 192 rooms. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received princes, Islamic scholars, officials and citizens who came to pledge allegiance to him and to Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. The audience was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz. Meantime the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has sent a cable of congratulations to President Laszlo Solyom of Hungary on the anniversary of his country's independence day. In his own name and on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the monarch wished him continuous health and happiness and his people steady progress and prosperity. The King also lauded the good relations binding the two countries. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received a telephone call from the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. During the call they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed issues of mutual interests in addition to the development on the regional and international arenas. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud received at the Royal Court at Al Salam palace in Jeddah the Bangladeshi ex-president Hussein Mohammed Arshad; Lebanon's former Foreign Minister Jan Obeid and former Chairman of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Paul Sergio Atallah who came to extend their condolences to the king on the sad demise of late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, attended the meeting. They also offered their condolences to the King. On his part, King Abdullah thanked them for their noble feelings, appealing to Allah Almighty to bestow his mercy upon King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz. Later, King Abdullah received the Minister of Education Dr. Abdullah Ibn Salih Al Obeid who was accompanied by Prince Khalid Ibn Abdullah Ibn Miqren Al Saud, Deputy Minister of Education for Girls Education, Dr. Saeed Ibn Mohammed Al Milais, Deputy Minister of Education for Boys Education, a number of senior officials of the Ministry of Education and a number of citizens who came to greet him and acknowledge the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz as king of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz as Crown Prince. Addressing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on behalf of the personnel of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Abdullah Ibn Salih Al Obeid, Minister of Education, thanked the king for giving them chance to meet him and receive their confirmation of acknowledgement for him as king and for Prince Sultan as crown prince. Dr. Al Obeid highlighted the smooth transfer of power in the Kingdom, the king's pardon of the convicted, release of the detainees and determination to wipe out the deviant group, a simultaneous show of mercy and power. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud received at his palace in Jeddah the Minister of Education Dr. Abdullah Ibn Salih Al Obeid who was accompanied by Prince Khalid Ibn Abdullah Ibn Miqren Al Saud, Deputy Minister of Education for Girls Education, and a number of senior female officials of the Ministry of Education in charge of girls education. Addressing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on behalf of the female personnel of the Ministry of Education, Princess Al Jawharah Bint Fahd Al Saud, Assistant Undersecretary of the Girls Colleges for Educational Affairs, confirmed in her own name and on behalf of her colleagues their confirmation of acknowledgement for him as king and for Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz as Crown Prince. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, attended the meeting. On his part, King Abdullah thanked them for their noble feelings, noting that Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country governed by Sharia law and the Prophet's Sunnah (Deeds and Sayings) and urged them to raise the generation on justice and service of their religion and country. He said education and jobs without co-working with men in the same office are now available for females in Saudi Arabia. He discussed with them a number of issues pertaining to women. The audience was attended by Iyad Ibn Ameen Madani, the Minister of Culture and Information. Assistant Director of Colleges for Girls Education Princess Al-Jawharah Bint Fahd Al Saud expressed her confidence in the wisdom of King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz's leadership. We honor the path of the pledge of unquestioning loyalty in for good or for bad and confirm that promise given to our fathers, forefathers and the founder of our nation Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, may Allah pave a path for him and his sons who have led and contributed to the development of this beloved country, the princess said in a speech addressed to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, as female teachers and education specialists gathered for a meeting with King Abdullah. In spite of our feelings of pain and sadness over the loss of the great King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on his soul, we are very confident that Allah will grant us, under your wise leadership, a bright future that will bear witness to many important and positive developments as a continuation of those that the Kingdom has already witnessed over the past period, as our leaders continue to serve this nation s scholars, Princess Al-Jawharah added. The King thanked the audience of female educationalists for the role they have played in developing the country. The first girls school opened its doors some 40 years ago. According to government statistics, adult literacy rates among women grew from 36 percent to 67 percent between 1970 and 1998. During the last 12 years, the number of women graduates has grown at an average rate of 2.5 times that of male graduates at Saudi universities as 58 percent of university students are female. However, women so far make up seven percent of the workforce in the Kingdom. In the meeting, the King said that the doors to education and work are open to women on the condition that they do not mix with men. May we be grateful to Allah, for we have seen how our daughters have served at these centers, centers that were once staffed by foreigners, but now you have shown your competence in running them and I hope that you will work even harder to educating more of your daughters to teach their daughters after you, the King said referring to the success of Saudizing girls education in the country. The King, however, gave warning against religious extremism, saying: This is our religion, this is what it should be and the door to interpretation outside the boundaries of this religion should be closed. He said that the Kingdom has risen above the violence of the past few years, adding: God has been with you since you marched through your youth to adulthood. In another reference to terrorist groups in the country, King Abdullah expressed his regrets, saying as for that which came from some of our sons, they are unfortunately our sons. But deviants are deviant, who have been guided by the devil and his accomplices, he added. On the other hand the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz has ordered the increase of salaries of the Saudis working at the governmental departments, either at civil or military posts, as well as pensioners, by 15 percent with the exclusion of Ministers and occupiers of excellent ranks. Second, gratuities of members of the Shoura (consultative) Council will increase also by 15 percent. Third: a month basic salary including the aforesaid increase will be paid to occupiers of the fifth ranks and other lower ranks, hired workers, imams, muezzins (prayer callers) and servants of mosques, as well as those whose basic salaries are equivalent to the basic salaries of the fifth rank. Fourth: payment of a basic salary including the aforesaid increase for occupiers of posts of chief sergeant and lower military posts. 'Fifth: increase of the maximum allocations of the social insurance for a family from SR 16,200 to SR 28,000 per year'. Sixth: allocation of SR 30 billion from the surplus of the revenues of the fiscal year 1425-1426 for the implementation of the second phase of the additional program of improving and developing services. The allocation will be equally divided for five fiscal years effective the next fiscal year 1426-1427 for the following sectors: -Department of Water and Sewage (the Ministry of Water and Electricity), and the Saline Water Conversion Corporation : SR 7 billion -Premises of the primary health care (the Health Ministry), : SR3 billion -Roads (the Ministry of Transport) :SR 5 billion -Premises of schools ( the Ministry of Education), :SR 4 billion -Asphalting and rain water drainage ( the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs), SR 4.5 billion -Premises of universities and new colleges, (the Ministry of Higher Education), :SR 4 billion -Projects of premises of technical education and vocational training, :SR2.5 billion Seventh: increase of the budget of the Real Estate Fund by an additional sum of SR 9 billion from the surplus of revenues of the fiscal year 1425-1426 Eighth: allocation of an additional sum of SR 8 billion from the surplus of revenues of the fiscal year 1425-1426 for popular housing in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The implementation programming for this project will take five years with a total allocation of SR 10 billion. Ninth: increase of the capital of the Credit Bank by SR 3 billion from the surplus of revenues of the fiscal year 1425-1426. This will raise the total capital the Bank to SR 6 billion. That will help in extending support to governmental employees, either civil or military employees, who are of limited income, as well as other citizens. Tenth: increase of the capital the Industrial Development Fund by SR 13 billion to SR 20 billion. This will help in supporting the industrial sector and extending incentives to industrial investments inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Eleventh: allocation of SR 15 billion for the program of Saudi Exports in line with the Royal Order number 7651, dated on 6.6.1426. Twelfth: allocation of what remains from the surplus of the fiscal year 1425-1426 for the repayment of the general debt. Thirteenth: articles 'firstly to fourthly' will be implemented effective 1.9.1426 Fourteenth: the required procedures should be completed for carrying out the Royal Order, and the concerned authorities will be informed to take the required measures for its implementation. A number of governors of regions, ministers and senior government officials hailed the order of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to increase salaries of all categories of Saudis working at governmental departments and augment budgets of public services. Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Tabuk Region, and Prince Mohammed Ibn Saud Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Al Baha Region lauded the decision as new evidence of the Saudi leadership's determination to improve the standard of living for Saudi people. In separate statements to the Saudi Press Agency, they wished the monarch every success and the Saudi people steady prosperity. On his part, the Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al Manei hailed the SR3 billion increase in the budget of preliminary health care. On the occasion, he said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the world's third in health expenditure and the Middle East's first. According to this increase, the Kingdom will have 1124 preliminary health care centers by the end of 1428/1429 H. fiscal year, Dr. Al Manei said. On his part, the Minister of Civil Service Mohammed Ibn Ali Al-Fayez hailed the increase by 15 percent of salaries of all categories of civil and military personnel of the government and one month basic salary including the new increase for occupiers of Rank No. five or below and others. Also commenting on the order, the Governor of Technical Education and Vocational Training Dr. Ali Ibn Nassir Al Ghufais thanked the monarch for ordering the allocation of SR30 billion from budget surplus to improving and developing public services. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud received a telephone call from Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the conversation, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in addition to the latest developments at the regional and international arenas. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received the Austrian ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr Friedrich Stift. They reviewed issues pertaining to bilateral relations. Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Al Madinah Al Munawarah Region, expressed pleasure of the orders given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud to further expand the mosque. In a statement, Prince Miqren said 182 shades to protect some 200,00 worshippers from sun direct rays and from rain will be installed around the holy mosque in Madinah in addition to building a new prayer area that will accommodate more than 70,000 worshippers and a car parking lot enough for 540 different-size vehicles according to the royal order. A giant toilet area, mostly for females, and three tunnels will also be built, the prince explained. From his side the Deputy General President of the Prophet's Mosque Affairs Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Al Faleh expressed pleasure of the orders given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud to further expand the mosque. In a statement, Sheikh Al Faleh said 182 shades to protect worshippers from sun direct rays and rain will be installed around the holy mosque in Madinah in addition to prayer ablution utilities and car parking lot according to the royal order. |
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