His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday pledged full government support for all projects that benefit citizens and ensure their well-being.

He spoke while opening Khalifa Grand Park in Riffa, promising that such citizen-directed projects would continue, to achieve comprehensive development, stressing that the rapid and unprecedented growth in the kingdom should be acknowledged.

"Projects of the municipal councils reflect aspirations and service needs of citizens, and the government has always directed its bodies to co-operate with the councils to translate them into reality," the Premier said, stressing the need to give priority to citizens' interests.

He also pointed out that the government will take advantage of all available resources to ensure the continuity of development projects, praising the important role played by municipalities in meeting citizens' expectations and upgrade their standard of living.

"Our resolve to bring about more landmark achievements for the kingdom despite the unstable global economic situation is endless since our ultimate goal is the service of the citizens," the Premier added, noting that the government's interest in leisure projects is in line with its focus on providing the infrastructure and vital projects that are closely related to citizens' needs.

He also said that interest in environment projects nationwide aims to achieve balanced sustainable development that takes into consideration ecological requirements, increase of green zones and preservation of the cultural, social and economic characters of each region.

HRH the Premier also praised efforts by Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi and the Central Governorate's Municipal Council in implementing the project, reiterating his support for all initiatives and projects aiming to meet citizens' needs.

Dr Al Ka'abi asserted that the Premier has, thanks to his wisdom and far-sightedness, established innumerable monuments and led national renaissance and progress march in all fields, which made the kingdom an outstanding and globally-acknowledged example of comprehensive sustainable development of which all citizens and residents are proud.

The governorate's Municipal Council chairman Abdulrazzaq Al Hattab conveyed and thanks from residents to the Premier for such a mega project which has turned barren land into a green one and upgraded the quality of services in the governorate.