PM al-Halaqi inaugurates projects in Sweida, announces financial grant for development

Upon the directives of President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi opened Thursday a number of services and development projects and laid the foundation stones of others in the southern province of Sweida.

The total value of the inaugurated projects is estimated at SYP 4 billion.

Al-Halaqi opened a sewage treatment plant in Habran-al-Ofeineh area that aims at preventing the risk of sewage water contamination for Habran Dam that is used for supplying drinking water, in addition to protecting the environment and public health in the area and providing a source of irrigation water.

The cost of the project is estimated at more than SYP 1 billion.

The Premier also laid the foundation stone of al-Maamal power station with a capacity of 20/66 KV.

The plant will help improve the power supply situation in Dahr al-Jabal area and the eastern part of Sweida. The project is expected to cost about SYP 3 billion.

During his tour in the province, al-Halaqi visited a number of projects under construction, including the industrial zone in Um al-Zaitoun area, Sweida Palace of Justice and Sweida Carpet Factory, in addition to visiting several tourist facilities.

The Premier later visited one of the army formations in Sweida and conveyed to the soldiers the greetings of President Bashar al-Assad and his appreciation of their sacrifices in defending the country.

Al-Halaqi also met economic, social, cultural and religious figures and the members of the People’s Assembly representing Sweida.

The Premier announced a financial grant worth SYP 1.5 billion for development in Sweida province.

Later, al-Halqi said that the agrarian sector is one of the basic sectors in the national economy and gains a direct interest from President al-Assad to provide it with all requirements to achieve food security.

He added that his visit to Sweida, along with different ministers, comes to monitor the task and performance of the public institutions and to inspect the economic and service situation as well as ease all difficulties resulted from the terrorist war waged on the Homeland.

A number of Ministers answered questions raised by journalists on the government performance in the sectors of electricity, water, oil and petroleum, industry, water and public works, showing the big losses that affected each sector due to terrorism and the efforts exerted by each ministry to overcome the difficulties and meet the demands of citizens.