JEDDAH, 17 March 2004 — Saudi Arabia will define its poverty line later this year, when the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs finalizes a national census begun 15 months ago.
“The study of all the facts relating to poverty in the Kingdom is going according to plan and helping us find positive solutions for poverty eradication,” said Dr. Ali Al-Namlah, minister of labor and social affairs.
He said the ministry’s working team is trying to obtain the latest data from government departments to put the final touches to the project.
He said the Planning Ministry’s early action to count the Saudi population would help establish the exact number of the poor in the Kingdom, though the principal objective of the project was to establish the poverty line.
The minister said a sum of SR100 million had been earmarked for emergencies that might arise from the study.
“This budget has remained untouched despite the continuing work to expose the causes behind the poverty in every part of the country,” he said.
Dr. Al-Namlah stressed his ministry was “doing all it can” to make the project a success.
The minister praised the efforts of the departments involved.
