Concerted efforts needed to address housing challenges : PM

Manama : Bahrain will join the other nations in celebrating the United Nations (UN) World Habitat Day tomorrow.

The 2017 edition is being celebrated under the theme: Housing Polices: Affordable Homes”. The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. 

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa has urged more efficient work to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Developments Goals which were globally endorsed at the United Nations in September 2016.

“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents a roadmap for states and governments to achieve a security and stable life for their peoples,” HRH Prime Minister said.

HRH Prime Minister reiterated Bahrain’s commitment to cooperation with the UN Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to achieve sustainable development goals.

“Bahrain shares the world the visions and objectives which aim at enhancing and elevating human life everywhere”, he said, stressing firm belief in the viability of collective work to meet ambitious goals for a more prosperous future for humanity.

In a keynote message to the world, he said that decent housing is incorporated in Bahrain’s social and economic development plans and programmes.

HRH Prime Minister also underlined Bahrain’s long-standing policy of building towns and expanding more housing units that meet present needs and future requirements.

HRH Prime Minister paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, stressing Bahrain’s dedicated effort to find housing solutions and developed and sustainable programmes that meet the needs of low-income families.

He underlined Bahrain’s urban strides, stressing the expansion of housing projects and the improvement of residential standards as part of efforts to ensure decent housing to all categories of citizens.

“These goals feature in the Government Action Plan (GAP) which aims to meet citizens’ basic needs through ambitious and multi-phased development programmes”, he said. HRH the Premier highlighted the tangible progress of work on housing projects in Bahrain, stressing viable partnership with the private sector to provide decent housing.

He underlined efforts to promote partnership between the public and private sectors to carry various programmes and initiatives, citing the social housing project and other conventional needs.

He took pride in Bahrain’s urban development stride which won international recognition, being a model for sustainable development.

“Bahrain was one of the first countries in the region which strove as early as the 1960s to provide housing services, in implementation of the constitutional provisions”, he said.

The Premier hailed the cooperation between the Bahrain and United Nations, stressing in this regard.