President pledges housing schemes for 20,000 families

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has pledged to provide 20,000 families with housing by the end of his administration.

The Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the goals and pledges that are to be fulfilled during the President's remaining years in power was unveiled at a special ceremony held in Dharubaaruge last night.

The plan stated that housing schemes were a pressing economic and social problem for the country. The plan also aims at providing affordable housing policies by the government. It is estimated in the SAP that the Maldivian population will reach around 650,000 (including migrants) by the year 2028. This estimate would call for the need to provide housing accommodations for around 20,000 families, according to the plan.

The SAP targets to provide 20,000 families by 2023 and allocate MVR 1 billion as National Affordable Housing Loans. It is also pledged to provide housing schemes for those families that were affected by the 2004 tsunami disaster that remained as well as relocated families.

The plan states that laws will be amended, social housing schemes introduced and funding for these schemes would be made available at a low rate in order to fulfill these pledges. The President has announced that 4200 flats will be constructed in Hulhumale' and 5000 flats will be built in other islands within the Maldives.