At every stage of the national effort, the value of any government initiative remains closely tied to its ability to improve citizens’ lives, address the problems they face, and raise the standard of services provided to them. Against this backdrop, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s recent directives reaffirmed that improving overall conditions and developing fundamental solutions to problems that have accumulated and been inherited over decades must go hand in hand with continued efforts to address emerging difficulties and shortcomings in the delivery of public services.
What is particularly notable about these directives is that they did not stop at the broader framework of reform. Instead, they moved directly to issues affecting citizens’ daily lives – from electricity and prices to transportation and traffic, as well as local services and direct communication with citizens.
At the forefront of these directives is the government’s assignment to prepare a comprehensive report on the actual achievements across various sectors of the state over the past several years, and to present it to citizens next October. The objective is to ensure that citizens have a comprehensive picture of the scale of the efforts undertaken, the funds spent, and the results achieved.
Presenting this complete picture to citizens is highly significant, as it provides a clear assessment of what has been accomplished over the past years and places the results directly before public opinion. Citizens have the right to know the extent of what has been achieved, the scale of the state’s efforts, and the tangible results those efforts have produced.
At the same time, President Sisi expressed his appreciation for the Egyptian people and their determination to continue the path of reform, despite the political, economic, and security turmoil affecting the world. This determination remains a fundamental factor enabling the state to continue implementing its programmes and confronting emerging challenges.
In the electricity sector, the directives call for greater accuracy, an end to arbitrary billing estimates, and making it easier for citizens to settle outstanding dues. In the markets, they call for continuous monitoring and ensuring that essential commodities are available at affordable prices.
If the state is to continue its reform journey amid turbulent regional and international circumstances, the success of that reform will ultimately depend on its ability to reach citizens in the details of their everyday lives.
This is what gives the presidential directives their significance. They do not merely set broad objectives; they identify specific areas of concern and call for regular follow-up on the measures being taken and the results being achieved on the ground.
