News in Brief

Saudi grants Jordan $232 mln: Jordan and Saudi Arabia signed three grant agreements worth $232 million on Sunday to finance water, irrigation and infrastructure projects, the state-run Petra News Agency reported.

The donation is part of $1.25-billion grant that Saudi Arabia pledged to extend to Jordan in 2011 over a period of five years.

Jordan’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour stressed after the signing ceremony importance of the grant to the development of Jordan, especially in light of the difficult political and economic conditions in the region the agreements were signed by Jordan’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ibrahim Saif and ViceChairman of the Saudi Fund for Development Youssef Al-Bassam.

The Saudi contribution is part of the overall USD-fivebillion grant to Jordan, coming also from Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar. Another USD five billion grant is similarly going to Morocco. (KUNA) Deal to build Pakistan homes: The International Islamic Charity Organization (IICO) and Kuwait Zakat House on Sunday signed an agreement to build three residential areas involving 600 houses in Pakistan within 24 months’ time.

The Chairman of IICO Dr Abdullah Al-Maatouq and Director of Zakat House Ibrahim Al-Saleh signed the housing contract here in presence of Kuwait Ambassador to Jordan Dr Hamad Al-Duaij.

Zakat House is keen on providing charitable and humanitarian relief to afflicted countries around the world. The contract between Zakat House and IIOC has been renewed to oversee the implementation of three residential areas in Pakistan, Al-Saleh told KUNA.

The signed agreement to build three residential areas with each holding 200 houses, two schools, a health center and a mosque in Pakistan, said IIOC Director Othman AlHajji to KUNA.

He highly appreciated cooperation between IIOC and Zakat House. (KUNA)