Egypt under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has taken steps and adopted rapid development plans to counter runaway population growth, which threatens development efforts and the future of this nation.
Anticipated population growth will surely put a tremendous strain on housing, education, healthcare and transport.
In the last eight years, the state has been carrying out many development and construction projects including the building of smart cities equivalent to fourth- generation cities in a bid to attract citizens to unpopulated areas and increase investment in them.
A few days ago, President Sisi inaugurated the first phase of New Mansoura City, which is considered one of the fruits of a comprehensive development plan.
In its race against overpopulation, the government is concentrating on construction, slum clearance and taking action on unsafe shantytown areas.
The state has also embarked on building a new road network to ease congestion.
New Mansoura City has been built according to the highest internationally recognised standards within just a few years.
The city with its housing, services, commercial and touristic amenities has become a dynamic community on Egypt’s North Coast. New Alamein and the New Administrative capital are being built on vast areas of desert to population density in the Nile Valley and increase the citizen’s quota of services and open areas.
East Port Said City will integrate the Sinai into the Egyptian mainland and attract local and foreign investment.
The new cities under construction are inclusive and sustainable, with housing areas, leisure facilities, places of worship and industrial and logistical areas. These cities are connected to surrounding areas across a new road network.
The achievements by Egypt in recent years have enabled the country to assume its place among the most advanced Arab and African countries, according to the UN Human Development Reports, which reflects international recognition of development policies by the Egyptian state.
A recent report by the cabinet Media Centre said Egypt has managed to advance upwards on the UN Human Development Index for some Arab countries.
Egypt has reduced unemployment to 7.5 per cent despite rising population.
The Media Centre points out the Human Development Report 2021 which reflects Egypt’s development vision since 2014, which contributed to upgrading infrastructure and public services alongside the government’s commitment to reforms in health, education, scientific research and housing.
International recognition has not come from nowhere. It is the result of constant work by the state for the sake of nation and its people.
Mohamed Fahmy is the editor-in-chief
of The Egyptian Gazette and
the Egyptian Mail newspapers
