Housing infra push

HRH the Crown Prince yesterday highlighted the need to swiftly implement the housing and related infrastructure projects to the betterment of the beneficiaries. This came as His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, along with the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, and the Minister of Finance and National Economy, Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, yesterday received the Minister or Housing, Bassim Alhamer, at Gudaibiya Palace.

HRH the Crown Prince affirmed that the Kingdom’s government services are geared towards achieving citizens’ aspirations, highlighting the importance of delivering housing units with high standards, in line with the aspirations of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.  HRH the Crown Prince emphasised the importance of further strengthening coordination among all concerned government entities in order to enhance productivity and expedite the delivery of infrastructure services in Salman City, East Sitra City, and all new housing cities to ensure citizens benefit from the facilities within the specified housing areas. 

A brief was then given by the Minister of Housing on the final plans detailing the development of infrastructure services in Salman City, in addition to new housing cities, in line with HRH the Crown Prince’s directives issued at the 2019 Government Forum.  HRH the Crown Prince expressed his appreciation for the efforts exerted in enhancing citizens’ confidence in the government’s ability to introduce housing developments, reserving special praise for the Ministry of Housing for their efforts in particular. 

The Cabinet has already hailed the high implementation rates of the national projects included in the Government Action Plan 2015- 2018, which exceeded 90 per cent. A presentation by the Cabinet Affairs Minister last year on the progress of the implementation of the main themes of the Government Action Plan 2015-2018, revealed that a total 321projects, related to the basic services provided to citizens in the housing, educational, health and youth sectors, as well as in infrastructure, such as roads, had been fully implemented by 35 ministries and government departments, and that the remaining ones will be completed soon.

The report showed that the government had succeeded in honouring its pledges in the various themes and priorities. In housing, the government pledged to build 25,000 units, and has already distributed 17,639 units, the minister said, adding that 3,095 housing units are being built and 5,043 ones are being prepared so as to be handed over to beneficiaries soon.