Hundreds of mosquesunder renovation

The renovation of 647 mosques is currently under way, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Call.
“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s program for the renovation of mosques is progressing steadily,” said Undersecretary for Administrative and Technical Affairs Abdullah Al-Huwaimel.
He said the ministry began implementing the program as soon as the king’s order to allocate SR500 million to the project was issued. “Priorities are determined as per technical, architectural and engineering studies of mosques across cities and villages.”
Minister Saleh Al-Sheikh heads the program and renovation projects were awarded to contracted companies after bidding.
The ministry recently announced that it has allocated SR85 million to renovate mosques in more than 19 governorates and rural centers.
“They will be renovated to the highest standards,” said the ministry’s Makkah province Branch Director, Abdullah Al-Naser. He said the budget allocated for the region was distributed based on the needs of each area and on categories determined by a committee.
The ministry’s branch in Jazan received SR33 million to cover the renovations of 66 mosques, said director Sa’ad Al-Namasi. The ministry allocated about SR9 million for renovating 42 mosques in the Eastern Province and Qassim.