The governor also launched Prince Sultan’s initiative to improve the color of buildings in Shafa. He also visited an exhibition that is being staged in Sulaimaniya and includes plans for the development of the historical region.
Addressing the ceremony, Prince Sultan emphasized the project’s importance to develop the historical region, and hoped that all real estate and shop owners in the area will cooperate.
“This is the first of a series of projects to be implemented by the commission in cooperation with the Municipal and Rural Affairs Ministry,” he said.
Prince Sultan said work on the project would start before the international conference on architectural heritage in Muslim countries that is to be held in Riyadh with the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
The SCTA chief disclosed the plan to carry out a similar project in Hufouf in the Eastern Province.
Speaking about the project, Taif Mayor Muhammad Al-Mukhrej said it was the result of a memorandum of understanding signed by the ministry and the SCTA. “We have taken into consideration the architectural, cultural and social aspects while preparing the project plan,” he explained.
The project also aims to enhance tourism and recreational facilities in Taif, which attracts a large number of tourists and holidaymakers every year from within the Kingdom and abroad.
Al-Mukhrej said the municipality had organized a meeting with real estate and shop owners in the region in order to inform them about the project and win their consent.
“We have given the consultant the go ahead with this vital project, which is estimated to cost SR120 million,” the mayor said, adding that it would be completed in three years.
He said the project is the brainchild of Prince Sultan bin Salman who has been entertaining the idea ever since visiting the region and its markets.
“There are a lot of beautiful antique buildings in the area,” he added.
Al-Mukhrej said the project to change the color of buildings in Shafa and other resorts in the city would be carried out with the support of paint companies.
Prince Khaled, meanwhile, launched 22 development and welfare projects in Taif on Monday. They included health, road and municipal projects as well as the Dat Al-Erq Meeqat development project.
