Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli said the cost of “Hayah Karima” (Decent Life) projects nationwide has exceeded EGP 450 billion, with the initiative’s first phase targeting more than 1,450 villages and benefiting around 20 million people. Madbouli said he had used his field visits to speak directly with residents about their satisfaction with healthcare services. The initiative has also covered agricultural and veterinary services, drinking water and sewage networks, as well as upgrading water treatment plants to meet villages’ needs through 2050. The targeted villages have also been connected to natural gas and fibre-optic networks, forming what Madbouly described as comprehensive rural development. Madbouli stressed that the massive undertaking required the efforts of millions of Egyptians, consulting firms and implementing bodies to deliver comprehensive and sustainable improvements in rural services.