MAKKAH: The developmental projects in Makkah should ensure a hassle-free movement and stay of pilgrims, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said while unveiling the strategy for the province’s development for the next 10 years in a meeting with the citizens of Makkah yesterday.

The major features of the strategy are quality education and training for the youth, better services to pilgrims and faultless utility services. The strategy also envisages productive cooperation between the private and public sectors, and improved functioning of government departments.

Prince Khaled stressed the importance of sustained and all-round progress for the people in cities, towns and villages in all administrative zones of the province. “The situation needs a leap from the Third World status of the country to the ranks of advanced countries. This goal, however, could only be achieved with a close partnership between the private and public sectors,” the prince said.

He also said that there is a need to develop human resources through education and training of youth. He added that human development in the province should also result in the heightened performance level of services provided to Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

The youth, both men and women, should be capable of becoming leaders in the private and public sectors, he said.

The strategy emphasized the need for quality water supply, health services and public transport for all who live in the region.

The prince also stressed the need to transform illegal neighborhoods in the province into model districts. He added that state lands should be protected, documented and developed for people’s benefit.

The strategy focuses on ways to strengthen the activities of government departments, and provincial and local councils, and the need to draw a road map for coordinating efforts in administrative regions. Various departments will be electronically linked with the aim of increasing the performance level in 12 to 18 months, the prince said.

The prince stressed the role of the private sector in improving the investment atmosphere in the province, making it the most attractive investment spot in the world. The strategy seeks to improve the performance level of the government sector starting from the governor’s office.

The new strategy is linked to the country’s five-year plans and the province’s 10-year development plans.