Local Newspaper Editors and Representatives Visit Manama Municipality Building and Municipal Exhibition

Manama: Editors-in-chief, editorial directors, and representatives of local newspapers visited the Manama Municipality building. The visit was held to view the historic building following its renovation and the efforts made to preserve its historical identity and highlight its architectural features.According to Bahrain News Agency, the visitors were accompanied by Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture; Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs; Ahmed Khalid Al Arifi, Chief Executive Officer of the National Communication Centre (NCC); and Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Director General of Heritage at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA).Minister Al Mubarak commended the role of the national press in supporting the Kingdom of Bahrain's development, documenting its progress, and highlighting national projects and achievements. He emphasised the importance of maintaining communication with press and media or ganisations and highlighting the development of municipal work in various domains.He stated that the development and modernisation of municipal work form part of Bahrain's comprehensive development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.The Municipalities Minister noted that municipal work in the Kingdom dates back more than a century, since the establishment of Manama Municipality in 1919 under His Highness Isa Al Kabeer, Ruler of Bahrain and its dependencies, the founder of the modern state and leader of institutional development in Bahrain's history. This contributed to establishing modern municipal administration, developing public services, and supporting urban development.He also mentioned that the renovation of the Manama Municipality building, which opened in 1962 under His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, is part of efforts to preserve the Kingdo m's institutional and historical heritage. He thanked the BACA for its efforts to renovate the building while preserving its original appearance and historical value.The news editors and representatives toured the municipality building, learning about key stages in the development of municipal work and the municipality's responsibilities, as well as the development and expansion of municipal services. They also viewed the building's facilities and the care given to its architectural components and features during the renovation.The visit included a tour of the municipal exhibition, where they viewed documents, items, and archival materials covering the development of municipal work and services in Bahrain and their expansion over the past decades.Participants highlighted the building's historical significance and the heritage content of the exhibition. They commended the items and documents on display and the renovation work, which preserved the building's original character and features, including the materials and colours used in its construction and its architectural details that reflect its historical identity.