Saudi king unveils $4.27 billion projects
riyadh — The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, has begun a domestic tour with a first stop in Qassim province, where he pardoned prisoners serving time on financial charges and announced 16 billion riyals — about $4.27 billion — in new projects.
This is King Salman’s first such tour since he ascended to the throne in 2015.
The state-run news agency reported on Wednesday that the government would pay debts of up to 1 million riyals, or $267,000, on behalf of each of the pardoned prisoners.
The monarch also announced billions of dollars for some 600 projects to improve health facilities, roads, schools and other infrastructure in Qassim.
The king was joined by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at a royal reception in central Qassim province, according to state television, as he started what Saudi media dubbed a tour of “several regions” in the kingdom.
The king was also set to visit the northern region of Hail in his first such tour since he ascended to the throne in 2015, the government said.
King Salman last month ordered the resumption of annual bonus payments to all government workers from the beginning of next year. The bonuses had been suspended under austerity measures in 2016 amid low oil prices. —