From the first day he took office in 2014, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has been working hard to ensure for each citizen and future generations decent living standards. All the decisions President Sisi has taken since assuming presidency indicate that relieving the Egyptian public of their economic burdens is his top concern.
During his latest inauguration of development projects in Beni Sueif governorate, the President announced a new package of social protection measures that reflect the awareness on the part of the state leadership of the difficult economic situation, the continual price hikes and high inflation, resulting from rising energy, transport and food costs due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has badly affected the world economy.
The President doubled the exceptional cost of living allowance to LE600 for all employees in state administrative apparatus, economic entities, state-owned enterprises and the public sector. The minimum wage for government employees was raised in March this year from LE3000 to LE3500, while the annual income tax exemption threshold was taken from LE36,000 to LE45,000 for all state employees.
In addition, he raised Takaful and Karama benefits for 5 million households by 15 per cent and doubled the exceptional grant for 11 million pensioners and beneficiaries to LE600.
The President also directed an increase in technology allowances for journalists registered with the syndicate, in accordance with the provisions in the general budget.
He directed the Egyptian Agricultural Bank to ease the burden on small farmers and individuals who have been unable to pay interest on loans prior to 1 January 2022.
The President also announced that those who acquired land from the General Authority for Urban and Rural Development Projects and have been unable to pay interest and late penalty payments would be exempted from doing so with a deadline at the end of 2024.
That President Sisi’s decisions have softened the impact of the economic crisis shows his understanding of the plight of the Egyptian people, who have patiently endured the outcomes of the state’s Economic Reform Programme. They stood behind their leader, trusting in his ability to manage state affairs.
Proof that President Sisi has been working for the interests of the citizen is observable in all parts of Egypt.
Throughout the past nine years, the Egyptian state has witnessed a massive breakthrough in human rights, despite the economic fallout from Covid-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine.
Healthcare has been always been a top priority of the state’s leadership. Several initiatives have been launched in recent years to overcome many diseases and end waiting lists for operations.
Social housing and more quality residences have also been the focus of state efforts over the past nine years, with special attention to shanty towns. This is in addition to the construction of roads and bridges, which have saved time previously spent in gridlocked traffic. President Sisi is also keen on providing quality education by building more schools and universities (civil and international). He is also working on a plan to upgrade Upper Egypt, which has been underdeveloped for years.
Nor does the state leadership spare any effort to help our Arab and African brothers in the event of disaster and armed conflict.
May God protect Egypt, its people and their leader.
Mohamed Fahmy is the editor-in-chief
of The Egyptian Gazette and
Egyptian Mail newspapers
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