CAIRO – Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Sherif el-Sherbini said that the Egyptian State, during President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s era, paid special attention to integrated urban development.
Speaking at a session, titled “Housing our future”, which was held on the sidelines on the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), currently in session in Cairo, the minister said Egypt witnessed an annual population growth of 1 to 1.5 million people, a matter that placed a major responsibility on the Housing Ministry to provide suitable housing that is compatible with this dramatic annual increase.
The minister further noted that a comprehensive plan was devised, under the aegis of President Sisi in 2014. The plan aims to build 2 million housing units by 2026, ranging from luxury, medium-sized and social housing units, he said.
He added that 1.5 million housing units have already been built and work is underway to finalize the remaining 500,000 units.
President Sisi stressed that the alternative housing units, which will be handed over to citizens living in dangerous areas, should be ready as soon as possible and fully furnished so as not to place any additional burdens on citizens, the minister said.
The Housing ministry, through the fourth generation and smart cities, seeks to achieve a comprehensive vision to increase the sustainable urban area, which has been doubled to 14% and is planned to reach 18% in the coming period, the minister said.
These cities contribute to providing job opportunities and stimulating economic activities in various regions, and focusing on developing infrastructure networks, including drinking water and sanitation services, and boosting the efficiency of water desalination plants, the minister added.
During the fiscal year 2024-2025, the Housing Ministry works on finalizing the implementation of about 127,000 housing units, the minister said.
Under the theme “It all starts at home: Local actions for sustainable cities and communities,” WUF12 centers on localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by emphasizing the importance of community-led solutions to address global challenges such as affordable housing, climate adaptation, essential public services, and the impacts of rising living costs.
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