Okaz/Saudi Gazette

NABHANIYA — Dhalie Rasheed is one of the most populated administrative centers in the Qassim region with more than 30,000 residents. But the city lacks a public hospital and a traffic police office as well as banks and colleges.

People in all neighboring villages depend on government offices in Dhalie, including the general court, the office of the General Organization for Social Insurance and the primary health center.

Villagers visit Dhalie to withdraw money from the ATM and to buy their needs from its famous vegetable market and other shops.

Under the Nabhaniya governorate, Dhalie is located 80 km east of the administrative center and is linked by a main road.

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, the people of Dhalie have called upon the authorities to provide them with necessary public facilities and services. “We urge the relevant departments to extend the required services in order to reduce our suffering,” said Muqaad Bin Ali Al-Raqas.

Among their demands are the establishment of a general hospital and the opening of campuses of major Saudi universities.

“I hope the Health Ministry would upgrade the existing health center into a general hospital so that people need not travel long distances for treatment,” Al-Raqas said while praising Qassim Governor Prince Faisal Bin Mishaal’s efforts to develop the region.

According to statistics published by the Health Affairs in Qassim, more than 174,000 people have visited the health center in Dhalie last year. “This huge number of patients underlines the need for a general hospital in the city,” he pointed out.

The ministry had announced its plan to establish a hospital in Dhalie long time ago but the project’s implementation has been delayed without any reason, Al-Raqas said.

Aali Bin Olayan Al-Raqas, chairman of Dhalie Municipal Council, referred to the suffering of students due to a lack of higher education facilities in the area. “Qassim University had announced its intention to open a branch in Dhalie and was looking for a building for the purpose. But lately, they have lost interest and no follow-up was made,” Al-Raqas said.

He urged the authorities to raise Dhalie’s administrative status from a center to a governorate and provide its people with the required services and facilities without further delay.

Eid Olayan Al-Rasheedi hoped that Saudi commercial banks would open their branches in the city. “We call upon the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) and commercial banks to speed up opening of bank branches in Dhalie,” he added.

At present, Dhalie residents have to travel more than 150 km to reach a bank.

Shallas Awad Al-Mudhaibiry emphasized the need to establish one-way roads linking Dhalie with other cities of the region. “When we go to Nabhaniya we have to cross 80 km of two-way road where chances of accidents are very high,” he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

He called upon the Transport Ministry to establish safe and secure roads to the city while stressing the importance of linking Dhalie with Madinah Expressway.

Saad Al-Mudhaibiry referred to the problem of recurrent power outages. “We have informed the Saudi Electricity Company about this problem but it has not taken any action,” he said.

Dhalie also requires branch offices of the Qassim Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and the Traffic Department to ensure the well being of its people.