MAKKAH: A meeting of provincial governors in Makkah on Saturday called for balanced and comprehensive development of the Kingdom’s regions, keeping in mind the interests of citizens and residents.

The meeting, which was chaired by Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif, emphasized the need to develop the entry points on the Kingdom’s land border, an official statement said.

The meeting discussed ways of further improving services to citizens and residents by making use of modern technology as well as linking governorates with an electronic system, it added.

The governors who attended the meeting were: Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz bin Musaed of Northern Border Province; Prince Muhammad bin Saud of Baha; Prince Khaled Al-Faisal of Makkah; Prince Sattam (acting governor of Riyadh); Prince Faisal bin Bandar of Qassim; Prince Muhammad bin Nasser of Jazan; Prince Muhammad bin Fahd of the Eastern Province; Prince Fahd bin Sultan of Tabuk; Prince Faisal bin Khaled of Asir; Prince Fahd bin Badr of Al-Jouf; Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed of Madinah; Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saad, deputy governor of Hail; and Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah of Najran.

The governors congratulated Prince Naif on the escape of Prince Muhammad bin Naif, assistant minister of interior for security affairs, from an assassination attempt last month.

A wanted terrorist, posing as a well-wisher, blew himself up inside the prince’s residence in Jeddah as the prince received members of the public who had come to greet him on the occasion of Ramadan.

The provincial governors also commended the efforts of Saudi security forces in combating terror and drying up the sources of terrorism. “Saudi Arabia’s experience in fighting terrorism has become a reference for top security officers in different parts of the world,” they said.

Before their meeting, the governors met with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to receive his directives.

King Abdullah told the governors to work for further improving the welfare and well-being of citizens. “More efforts should be made for the progress and prosperity of the country and its people and to improve the level of developmental and living services,” the king said during a meeting with the governors at Al-Safa Palace.

“These meetings offer a good opportunity to exchange views and proposals that serve the interest of the country and its people,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as saying.