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Sharjah pays off Dh1.15 billion in citizens' debt

Called ‘Mabara’, the channel brought to light many cases of debtors and those in need

Published: Wed 4 Sep 2024, 2:08 PM

Updated: Wed 4 Sep 2024, 8:17 PM

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Photo: Wam

Photo: Wam

A special communication channel between the Sharjah Ruler and citizens has helped settle over Dh1.150 billion in debt. Called ‘Mabara’, the channel brought to light many cases of debtors and those in need. It led to the formation of the Sharjah Citizens Debt Relief Committee that helped settle the dues.

Referring to Sharjah’s government’s approach to flexibility, a top official highlighted how Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued directives to government departments and institutions to open direct communication channels with the public.

“He noticed that these channels needed to be improved for the desired communication. Thus, he ordered the launch of the 'Direct Line' programme on radio and television to provide live communication channels to the public. It was later observed that some cases could not be aired publicly, which led to the creation of a special communication channel called 'Mabara' for these sensitive situations,” said Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council (SMC).

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He was addressing the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2024) that kicked off on Wednesday.

Themed ‘Agile Governments... Innovative Communication’, the two-day forum features more than 160 discussions, debates, workshops, and youth capacity building activities led by 250 international guests and experts.

Addressing the Sharjah Ruler, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed said: “Many times, we have listened to Your Highness as you repeated certain proverbs, offered advice, and guided officials, often reiterating phrases like: ‘Do not be a barrier to goodness,' and 'With the stroke of a pen, people's suffering can end,' and 'The one in need is persistent'. When we reflect on these words, we find they all emphasise the flexibility that the government must embody, perfectly encapsulated by the proverb: 'Do not be so soft that you are squeezed, nor so hard that you break’.”

The Deputy Ruler highlighted how issues were resolved swiftly at a time when a carrier pigeon was the fastest means of communication. “Yet today, in our era of rapid advancements, unfortunately, certain terms have dominated the work of some governments: bureaucracy, the procedural cycle, 'Come back tomorrow,' and 'The system is down'. Therefore, to achieve effective and flexible government communication, we must begin with flexible minds that draw inspiration from their deep-rooted values while leveraging advanced technology and not being trapped in the past, nor chasing everything new.”

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