MAKKAH — Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Sunday launched the "Afforestation of the Squares Surrounding the Grand Mosque" initiative, which aims to improve the general environment of the Grand Mosque and its surroundings by converting parts of the empty spaces and corridors around the grand mosque into agricultural basins, it was reported.

The report said that the initiative also aims to utilize and recycle ablution water and use it for irrigation purposes.

Sheikh Dr. Al-Sudais indicated, during a speech, that the initiative is in line with and supports the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which seeks to enhance the vegetation cover, citing its positive impact on improving the environmental aspect, which is positively reflected on visitors of the Grand Mosque.

He added that that the initiative also contributes to alleviating global warming, lowering temperatures, reducing air pollution and improving air quality in the squares surrounding the mosque. — SPA