Manama: Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, chaired the 306th meeting of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure. The committee acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture in executing extensive field campaigns in the governorates of Muharraq, Northern, and Southern to address issues such as encroachments, road and public parking obstructions, unauthorised street vendor stalls, and advertising violations. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah urged the ministry to persist in these initiatives, which play a role in maintaining the civilised and aesthetic appearance and enforcing regulations and laws.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the committee highlighted the beginning of foundation pouring works for a project to build 69 new housing units in Salman City. This is part of a broader plan to construct 137 new housing units in the city, carried out under the Government Land Development Rights Programme by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in collaboration with the private sector. The committee confirmed the government's ongoing efforts to bolster successful partnerships to expedite the execution of social housing projects.
The committee also celebrated the launch of a new suite of advanced digital government services by the Survey and Land Registration Bureau, the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, the Ministry of Works, and the Electricity and Water Authority. This initiative is part of the government's continuous efforts toward comprehensive digital transformation in all its services, aiming to simplify procedures and deliver efficient services to citizens.
The committee reviewed various agenda topics, including the urban regeneration project in Muharraq and ongoing measures to preserve the city's historical and architectural identity. They examined a detailed presentation on building permit activities, which showed significant growth with a 73% increase in applications submitted between May 2025 and May 2026, a 78% increase in permits issued, and a 30% rise in construction area covered by issued permits. The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture was tasked with monitoring and analysing building permit applications and linking them to construction material quantities to support future strategic planning.
Additionally, the committee looked into infrastructure projects necessary for large-scale housing masterplans to ensure the integration of essential services and followed up on developments in the livestock sector. A detailed presentation on the efficiency of collection procedures at the Electricity and Water Authority was also reviewed to ensure the sustainability and quality of services provided to subscribers.