Sisi directs government to:
- Prepare a comprehensive report of achievements in all sectors
- Monitor compliance of contracts concluded with citizens
- Oversee electricity billing process, prevent arbitrary estimates
- Regulate markets, expand retail outlets
- Complete public transport projects
- Open direct communication channels with citizens
- Enforce the rule of law with absolute resolve
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday attended a celebration marking Al Mawlid Al Nabawi (the birth of Prophet Muhammad) at the Safwa International Conference Centre at the Strategic Command headquarters in the New Capital.
The celebration was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hesham Badawy, Senate Speaker Abdel Wahab Abdel Razeq, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Issa, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence and Military Production Lt. Gen, Ashraf Salem Zaher, Minister of Awqaf Osama Al-Azhari, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa, as well as a number of ministers, senior state officials.
The celebration began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a documentary titled “The Prophet Smiled.”
Minister of Awqaf Osama Al-Azhari then delivered a speech marking the occasion and presented President Sisi with a collection of books on the characteristics and life of the Prophet Muhammad in several languages.
During the celebration, President Sisi honoured a number of scholars from Al-Azhar and the Ministry of Awqaf, as well as distinguished figures, awarding them the First Class Medal of Science and Arts.
President Sisi said the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birth was not merely a commemoration of the birth of the “best of mankind,” but an occasion to recall the Prophet’s teachings and legacy.
“Prophet Muhammad embodied virtues of noble character that amazed minds and inspired hearts,” Sisi said. “He was compassionate when compassion was needed, generous when generosity was called for and firm when firmness was required. He was kind to children, respectful towards the elderly, compassionate towards the weak and caring towards the poor.”
The Prophet, President Sisi added, taught humanity to honour and support every person, regardless of their religion, gender or colour.
The president also sought to reassure Egyptians about the state’s preparedness to safeguard national security.
“Allow me to reassure you once again of the total vigilance of the Egyptian state, across all its institutions, regarding everything that pertains to our national security. I also affirm that we are sparing no effort to advance and develop the state in all fields, as we strive relentlessly and sincerely to improve the living conditions of our citizens,” President Sisi said.
“The Egyptian Armed Forces are fully prepared and ready to defend Egypt and its resources with strength against any external threat,” President Sisi said, adding that he personally and continuously monitors the Armed Forces’ combat readiness and field efficiency.
He said his attention was not limited to the military institution but extended to all areas of state affairs, including improving conditions, addressing long-standing problems and dealing with shortcomings in public services.
President Sisi directed the government to prepare a comprehensive report on the state’s actual achievements across all sectors over recent years and present it to citizens in October.
The report, he said, should provide a comprehensive overview of the efforts made, funds spent and results achieved. Without the support of Allah and the will of the Egyptian people to continue reforms, we would not have attained our current stability amid a turbulent global political, economic, and security environment, the President added.
He also called for organising a broad conference involving government officials, intellectuals, academics and specialists to discuss what has been accomplished over recent years, as well as the challenges and projects facing the country.
“We are trying to be honest in what we put forward because this is the people’s right over us,” President Sisi said.
He stressed that the discussions should be conducted with transparency and credibility and give citizens an opportunity to understand the challenges Egypt has faced.
“I am not worried about Egypt because of external challenges as long as there is public awareness, understanding and a proper grasp among the people and public opinion of what is being plotted against the state,” he said.
The President also warned against misinformation and what he described as attempts to distort public awareness.
“There is chaos on social media and in some media outlets in terms of knowledge, presentation and understanding of the challenges Egypt has faced over the past 50 years,” he said.
“Those seeking to confuse citizens’ awareness are not acting in Egypt’s interest. We need work, understanding and patience, especially as we are a country of 110 million people in a world undergoing several challenges and major transformations.”
President Sisi also said that the behaviour of some Muslims should not necessarily be taken as a reflection of Islam itself, stressing that genuine understanding of the religion should be reflected in people’s conduct.
He criticised media outlets hostile to Egypt for what he described as inaccurate coverage of Egyptian affairs, warning that those who spread falsehoods and rumours with the aim of damaging the country would ultimately be held accountable before God.
“There is no religion that can be established through destruction, corruption, devastation and killing,” he said.
The president also said the state did not seek to make excuses for its performance. He noted that he had previously asked the government to provide a detailed account of Egypt’s domestic and external debt and compare it with the volume of state subsidies provided over the past 50 years.
“We have made the effort. Whatever we have succeeded in achieving is by the grace of God, and whatever we have not succeeded in achieving, I ask God to make up for our shortcomings,” Sisi said.
Sisi issued a number of directives to the government.
He ordered the preparation of the comprehensive report on state achievements and called for greater transparency in discussing the country’s performance and challenges.
He also ordered continuous and close monitoring of developers’ compliance with contracts signed with citizens, particularly regarding the timely delivery of residential units and related infrastructure and utilities.
“I will be firm on this issue,” President Sisi said, warning that legal measures would be taken against developers who collected citizens’ money but failed to fulfil their contractual obligations on time.
“The state does not overlook the rights of its citizens,” he said, adding that the same principle applied to the protection of beaches.
President Sisi directed the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat to personally and carefully supervise electricity billing, avoid arbitrary estimates and facilitate the payment of outstanding bills, including considering arrangements to settle arrears.
He reiterated his instructions to the government and the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk to maintain strict market controls, expand government initiatives and sales outlets, and establish at least one government outlet in every administrative centre nationwide to provide essential commodities to different segments of society at affordable prices.
President Sisi directed the Ministry of Transport to complete all public transport projects within their established timelines and continue improving roads and road signage.
In light of repeated traffic accidents, he also ordered the Interior Ministry to conduct continuous traffic campaigns nationwide, enforce traffic regulations and take swift legal action against violations.
He reiterated his instructions to the Ministry of Local Development and governors to maintain field-level follow-up, establish direct communication channels with citizens, receive complaints and inquiries, explain facts, facilitate services and address problems, while ensuring strict accountability for violators.
President Sisi stressed that all officials must enforce the rule of law decisively.
“There is no place among us for a corrupt person, and there will be no favouritism towards anyone who tampers with the rights of the people or abuses the resources of this great nation,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Sisi stressed that a nation’s advancement depends on dedication to work and good character.
“The advancement of a nation is built on perfection of work and good character. These are not merely words to be repeated; they are a way of thinking, a method of work and a way of life,” he said.
