Beirut: Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamny, on Monday laid the cornerstone for the expansion, rehabilitation, and resurfacing of the Kfarfalous-Karkha and Karkha-Bqosta-Awali roads, marking the launch of a major infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity between the Jezzine and Sidon districts.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the ceremony was held at the entrance to the Shrine of St. John the Baptist in Karkha and attended by religious leaders, MPs, former ministers and lawmakers, senior military and security officials, local authorities, and representatives of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. The approximately 12-kilometer project is designed to enhance road safety, ease traffic flow, and strengthen transport links along a key corridor connecting Jezzine and Sidon.
Following the national anthem, the ceremony was opened by the shrine's priest, Father Walid El Deek. Mayor of Karkha Jean Nakhle said the project would improve connectivity between Jezzine and Sidon, reduce congestion on the main highway, and facilitate access to the Shrine of St. John the Baptist, particularly during religious seasons.
Nakhle also highlighted the contribution of businessman Charles Hanna, a native of Karkha, to developing the shrine into a religious and tourism landmark. He revealed that a feasibility study was underway for a cable car linking the shrine with the Monastery of the Holy Saviour in Joun, with proceeds intended to support education and healthcare services for residents of the area. He conveyed Hanna's appreciation to Rasamny for supporting the project and thanked President Joseph Aoun, the minister, and all those who contributed to bringing the project to fruition, particularly Gaby Dib.
Archbishop Haddad welcomed Rasamny and the attendees to Karkha, describing the launch of the project as a sign of the state's renewed attention to citizens' needs. He praised the Ministry of Public Works and Transport as one of the government institutions most closely connected to people's daily lives and commended Rasamny's approach to implementing development projects. He also thanked the minister and his team, particularly Gaby Dib, for overseeing improvements to the roads leading to the shrine, expressing hope that development projects benefiting citizens and local communities would continue.
In his address, Rasamny said field visits were an essential part of his work because they provided a direct understanding of citizens' needs and priorities. He noted that he had inspected the road before the ceremony and observed the growing pressure on the route, particularly following the damage sustained in southern Lebanon. The minister said the choice of the Shrine of St. John the Baptist as the venue reflected its historical and spiritual significance, describing it as part of the region's identity for more than three centuries. He stressed that the roads of southern Lebanon were "more than infrastructure" and served as vital lifelines linking people to their land and reinforcing their resilience.
Rasamny said southern Lebanon remained a government priority despite mounting challenges. He noted that following the 2024 war, the government had prepared a reconstruction plan backed by a $250 million loan and additional assistance, but renewed hostilities had expanded the scale of destruction and delayed implementation. He added that President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam continued to work toward securing lasting stability as the foundation for sustainable reconstruction.
The minister said the ministry was operating with limited financial and human resources, noting that its 2026 budget allocations fell well short of its needs and that a team of fewer than 15 engineers and staff was overseeing projects across the country. He said project selection was based solely on citizens' needs and development impact, regardless of political or regional considerations, with priority given to major domestic and international roads that support economic and social activity.
Rasamny added that several projects delayed by the war or rising implementation costs had gradually resumed after obstacles were addressed, announcing a new inspection tour of southern Lebanon next week to follow up on additional projects. He also recalled that, even before the end of the war, the ministry had secured cabinet approval for emergency funding to clear rubble and reopen roads. Working alongside the Council for the South, the Higher Relief Commission, the Council for Development and Reconstruction and other agencies, it had reopened most accessible roads and enabled residents to return to their villages.
The minister stressed that successful national action depended on cooperation among state institutions, thanking MPs, mayors, and mukhtars for their efforts in serving their communities and praising the commitment of newly elected municipal leaders. "We may not be able to accomplish everything at once, but we will continue working with a genuine national commitment to serve all of Lebanon, because a state's worth is measured by the projects it completes, not by those it announces," Rasamny said.
The ceremony concluded with a blessing of the project, followed by the laying of the cornerstone and a commemorative photograph.