Director General of Urban Planning, Engineer Ali Ramadan, hosted a Ramadan iftar in honor of Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny at Feluka restaurant in Beirut. The event was attended by directors and employees from urban planning offices across Lebanon.
In his speech, Ramadan welcomed Rasamny and praised his commitment to supporting public administration and ensuring fairness for employees despite ongoing challenges. He noted that the Directorate had made significant progress in modernization and administrative reform over the past two years, thanks to the dedication of its staff.
Ramadan outlined the Directorate’s efforts to implement a comprehensive land-use plan in collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure balanced development. Additionally, he announced the preparation of a draft law for the reconstruction of areas affected by Israeli aggression, turning adversity into an opportunity for sustainable urban planning.
Ramadan further highlighted the weekly meetings of the Higher Council for Urban Planning to expedite projects. He underscored ongoing cooperation with UN-Habitat and UNDP to develop a digital map of Lebanon, facilitating regulatory procedures.
Moreover, Ramadan affirmed that strategic planning initiatives were underway in Jbeil and Akkar, alongside efforts to regulate technical audit offices for public safety compliance.
On digital transformation, Ramadan revealed that the Directorate had launched its official website and was entering the second phase of modernizing administrative processes to enhance transparency and efficiency. He also noted that solar energy was being introduced at the Directorate’s headquarters to improve working conditions.
For his part, Minister Rasamny acknowledged the difficulties of public service, stating that he accepted the position with the goal of enacting reform under the leadership of President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
"As newcomers to public service, we enter this field with a clear determination to bring about change, despite the challenges," Rasamny said, emphasizing that public administration is more complex than the private sector and requires time and resilience to implement genuine reforms. "Today, we have chosen to steer the ship toward transparency and reform."
Rasamny went on to stressed his preference for action over rhetoric, stating: "Over the past twenty years, you have heard many speeches, and you have all seen the results. Today, we face a difficult reality—we have lost the state, and we are working tirelessly to rebuild the infrastructure of its institutions."
The Works Minister then pointed out that the lack of recruitment in the public sector over the past years had resulted in a 60-70% vacancy rate, creating additional challenges but also revealing highly skilled professionals within the administration, despite the economic crisis affecting salaries and living standards.
On urban planning, Rasamny emphasized the crucial role of the sector, noting that "60% of Lebanese territory still lacks proper planning, necessitating close cooperation with municipalities and relevant stakeholders."
The Minister concluded by stressing the importance of coordination between government agencies and parliamentary committees, underlining the need for collective efforts to address challenges and establish a new governance approach based on competence, integrity, and stability.
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