Manama: Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, reviewed municipal service preparations in the capital, Manama, and visited a number of sites and maatams as part of ongoing preparations for the Ashoora commemoration 1448 AH. The visit aimed to assess the readiness of municipal services and ensure the provision of the highest standards of service.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the field tour included visits to a number of key locations, main procession routes, and several maatams. It was attended by Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs; Saleh Taher Tarradah, Chairman of the Capital Trustees Board; Alya Yousif Yahya, Director General of the Capital Municipality; Brigadier Dr. Ammar Mustafa Al Sayed, Deputy Governor of the Capital Governorate; as well as a number of maatam heads and officials.
The minister affirmed that the visit reflects the ministry's commitment to enhancing municipal services during Ashoora through intensified sanitation and waste management operations, alongside the provision of the necessary resources and personnel to maintain public areas and ensure efficient service delivery.
During the visit, Al Mubarak inaugurated the Main Municipal Services Operations Centre for Ashoora in Manama, which will oversee sanitation and support services throughout the period. The centre will also implement awareness programmes aimed at promoting public hygiene, encouraging recycling practices, and fostering environmental sustainability.
He noted that the ministry's operational plan for the capital during the commemoration includes the deployment of 300 sanitation workers and 12 municipal inspectors, in addition to the provision of 300 waste containers, 250 litter bins, seven waste collection trucks, 10 containers designated for plastic recycling, and four mechanical street-sweeping vehicles. These measures are intended to ensure the prompt removal of waste and maintain public spaces in and around matam locations.
The minister added that the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, through the Capital Municipality, will further promote recycling initiatives during the commemoration by distributing a number of waste recycling collection points across the capital, alongside intensified awareness programmes in partnership with various segments of society.
Al Mubarak highlighted the ministry's continued coordination with relevant authorities and matam administrators to ensure the delivery of optimal municipal services. He also underscored the importance of community partnership and environmental awareness in preserving public spaces and supporting the success of the event.
For their part, the heads of the maatams visited expressed their appreciation to the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, commending the government's efforts to provide the services and resources necessary for the successful organisation of the Ashoora commemoration 1448 AH and the delivery of high-quality services to participants.