The al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine reveals the details of the Urban Development Project of the Old City in Karbala

The Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine revealed on Saturday the details of the Urban Development Project for the Old City of Karbala, while confirming that its engineering staff began the first phase, which includes the construction of the Umm al-Baneen (peace be upon her) courtyard.

The head of the Engineering Projects Department, engineer Dia Majeed al-Sa'egh, said in a statement to the News Center that "the Urban Development Project of the old holy city of Karbala is a project designed in 2014, preceded by several years to develop the city center," adding that "the project was adopted by the ministries of municipalities and planning, Karbala governorate and urban planning departments. After approving it, the Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine began to acquire the houses and lands located within this space in the first stage".

Al-Sa'egh added that "our engineering staff has started the first stage, which includes the construction of the Umm al-Baneen (peace be upon her) Courtyard, located on the northern side of the Al-Abbas's (p) holy shrine".

He explained that" the first step of the project is to transfer the existing infrastructure of generators, electric power and water systems to outside the holy shrine, to start unloading the underground to install pillars and dig foundations, "pointing out that "the total area of the project is 20 thousand square meters; includes the establishment of a large underground basement, with Iwans, services and Minbars dedicated to women and a full roof above to be an integrated couryard with the same area covered with green spaces for distinguished visitors."

The head of the department continued, "the project is integrated and is followed by a large gate to the Aba al-Fadl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) courytard," pointing out that "the other steps come successively once the project reaches its final stages and the acquisition of the rest of the buildings."

The project was designed entirely by the staff working in the Engineering Projects Department, according to al-Sa'egh, stressing that "the project was transferred after approval from the Shiite endowment and the Ministry of planning to the Iraqi Ardh Al-Quds Company for implementation, funded by the endowment and the ministries of Finance and planning".