Bahrain participates in GCC Municipalities Affairs Ministers meeting

Manama , Oct 22 (BNA): Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf participated in the 19th GCC Municipalities Affairs Ministers held today in Doha, Qatar. The minister stated that the meeting discussed a number of topics, including the strategic urban planning, development of municipal training centers, organizing the municipal control and other topics, which contribute to promote the march of the GCC municipal work and strengthen cooperation among GCC cities in line with latest global developments taking place in the field of urban development. He added the meeting also discussed the GCC Municipal Action Award aimed at bolstering competition towards achieving sustainable urban development. He expressed optimism that the urban planning agreement which will be signed with the UN Development Office will contribute to uplifting the level of the joint Gulf municipal action and to fortify urban development. He affirmed the GCC states' commitment to implement the urban strategy, which focuses on the development of highway facilities, unifying building codes and standards of urban planning and restructuring. He said that the Municipalities Ministers Committee has welcomed the proposal submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on control and inspection of municipal violations. Undersecretary for Municipalities Affairs Nabeel Abualfatih, who participated in the 31st GCC Senior Municipal Officials meeting, stressed that the municipal work in its modern sense has become a key pillar of sustainable urban development and has an active role in achieving the welfare of GCC citizens and residents alike.