Manama: Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, chaired the 310th meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Development Projects and Infrastructure. At the outset of the meeting, the committee prayed for the continued security, stability, and prosperity of the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people, acknowledging the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The committee expressed its appreciation to the Kingdom's military, security, and civilian authorities for their vigilance and professionalism in responding to recent developments.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the committee commended the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning for their swift action in repairing homes damaged by Iranian attacks, handing over a new batch of restored homes in Hidd Housing City and the Sitra area within the approved timeframe. The committee also highlighted Bahrain's sixth-place global ranking among 159 countries in the 2026 ICT Development Index by the International Telecommunication Union, noting the Kingdom's advancement by three places and its increased overall score to 98%.
The Ministry of Electricity and Water Affairs and the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) received praise for their response to a recent limited power outage, with the committee acknowledging the swift restoration of services and the efficiency of technical teams. Additionally, the Ministry of Works was commended for completing the construction of a two-lane U-turn on Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway, improving traffic flow for northbound motorists towards Manama.
The introduction of electronic virtual inspection services by the Electricity and Water Authority for new water connection requests and internal water installations inspections was welcomed, marking an advancement in the government's digital transformation efforts. The committee reviewed a study by the Ministry of Works on contractor classification for government projects, and tasked the ministry with enhancing road safety on Farms Road, considering its expansion and development.
Progress on the national afforestation plan was discussed, with 15% of the target achieved by June 2026. The committee also reviewed statistics on the Benayat building permit system, governance procedures for expropriation and compensation, and service level agreement performance indicators at the Urban Planning and Development Authority, noting timely responses and efficient procedures across various sectors. Performance indicators for cadastral transactions at the Survey and Land Registration Bureau showed prompt completion within 15 working days in partnership with the private sector.