The National Water Company announced the completion of two vital water and wastewater network projects in the Qassim region, reflecting its ongoing commitment to developing the Kingdom's water and environmental infrastructure. The total cost of these projects exceeded 48 million Saudi Riyals. This achievement will enhance the services provided to residents and improve operational efficiency in the region.

Details of completed projects in Buraidah and Ar Rass

The company revealed the technical details of the two projects. The first project involved the implementation of drinking water networks and pipelines in various neighborhoods of Buraidah, including Al-Yarmouk, Al-Rawabi, Al-Ghadir, and Al-Rawaq. The total length of the pipelines implemented in this section exceeded 65 kilometers, ensuring the delivery of desalinated and sustainable water to homes.

The second project focused on the environmental aspect by implementing sewage networks and lines in Al-Rass Governorate, specifically to serve the Al-Shananah and Industrial neighborhoods, with a length exceeding 40 kilometers. Official company statistics indicate that the direct impact of these two projects will benefit more than 20,000 new residents in the Al-Qassim region, representing a significant improvement in the level of services.

Strengthening infrastructure and keeping pace with urban growth

These projects are of paramount importance given the urban expansion and population growth witnessed in the Qassim region. Extending water and sewage networks not only provides the service but also directly contributes to environmental protection by eliminating the need for traditional septic tanks and reducing reliance on water tankers, thus minimizing visual and environmental pollution and supporting public health in the targeted neighborhoods.

Alignment with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030

The National Water Company affirmed that these efforts are fully aligned with the National Water Strategy and the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, specifically the Quality of Life Program. Through these projects, the company aims to expand the coverage of water and environmental services and provide sustainable and reliable solutions that ensure the well-being of citizens and residents. This achievement also reflects the government's commitment to providing the necessary financial support for developing the water sector and mitigating environmental damage.

Call to action for beneficiaries and digital transformation

In closing, the National Water Company urged its valued customers in the serviced neighborhoods of Buraidah (Al-Yarmouk, Al-Rawabi, Al-Ghadir, and Al-Rawaq) and residents of Al-Rass Governorate in the neighborhoods of Al-Shananah and Al-Sina'iyah to apply for water service connections. The company highlighted the ease of the process through its approved digital channels, whether via the official smartphone application or the online branch, in line with its digital transformation plans aimed at streamlining the customer experience.

In a move reflecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to caring for all segments of society, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development launched a new initiative: the "Privilege Card," a smart digital identity card for Saudi citizens aged 60 and above. This initiative aims to enhance the status of senior citizens and facilitate their daily lives through a comprehensive suite of services.

What is a senior citizen privilege card?

The Privilege Card serves as an official digital identity, granting its holder a range of privileges and services. The Ministry designed this card to be a digital companion for senior citizens, automatically appearing in the "Tawakkalna" and Ministry of Human Resources applications, thus eliminating the need for beneficiaries to carry plastic cards or paper documents to access their priority rights and services.

Card eligibility requirements and issuance process

The ministry has set very simplified criteria for obtaining this card, in line with its policy of facilitating matters for the elderly. The conditions are summarized as follows:

• The beneficiary must be a Saudi citizen.
• To be 60 years of age or older.

One of the most prominent features of this initiative is its "automatic issuance" process; senior citizens are not required to submit any applications, visit ministry branches, or fill out complex electronic forms. Once a citizen reaches the specified legal age, the card is automatically activated and linked to their data in the approved government applications (Tawakkalna), reflecting an advanced level of electronic integration between government entities.

Key advantages and facilities offered

The "Privilege Card" grants its holders a package of moral and service rights that ensure their comfort, the most important of which are:

• Priority in service: Obtaining priority in completing transactions and benefiting from services in all government agencies and related entities.
• Dedicated facilities: Providing private parking spaces near the entrances of public and governmental facilities.
• Comfortable waiting areas: Allocate waiting seats in the front rows to ensure that the elderly are not exhausted while in public places.

The initiative's context is within the Kingdom's Vision 2030

The launch of the "Privilege Card" cannot be separated from the broader context of the Kingdom's digital transformation under Vision 2030. This initiative falls under the objectives of the "Quality of Life" program, which aims to improve the lifestyle of individuals and families. The reliance on the "Tawakkalna" application as the platform for this card demonstrates the success of the Kingdom's digital infrastructure, where services have shifted from bureaucratic paper-based transactions to proactive services that reach beneficiaries effortlessly.

Social and humanitarian impact

Locally, this initiative reinforces the values ​​of reverence and respect deeply rooted in Saudi society towards the elderly, but it also transforms this respect from customary practices into a structured and legally enshrined institutional framework. Providing these privileges is not merely an administrative service; it is a message of appreciation and gratitude to a generation that contributed to building the nation, thus strengthening social cohesion and making the elderly feel valued and secure in their position within society and the state.