Saudi- Shoura will study plan to expedite projects today

(MENAFN- Arab News) JEDDAH: The Ministry of Housing has submitted a proposal to the Shoura Council for mechanisms allowing global companies to participate in the implementation of housing projects.
In its annual report the ministry has called for facilitating classification procedures for these companies and exempting them from certain restrictions.
The proposal which will be debated and voted at the Council's session on Monday calls for establishing partnerships between the state and specialized foreign investors as well as adopting a mechanism to partner with real estate developers to providing housing for citizens.
According to the ministry the proposal supports the need to make use of empty land as per the national housing strategy in the Kingdom as well as support the activation of a real estate land registry and home ownership inventory system in all regions and governorates in the Kingdom.
The report revealed it is facing difficulties in obtaining required data from some bodies such as municipalities justice offices notaries and the electricity company in order to verify applicants who are interested in housing support.
Meanwhile the Council will vote on the recommendations of the Haj Housing and Public Services Committee regarding the annual report where the committee has called on the Ministry of Housing to provide its timeline and construction plans for the provision of residential housing units for citizens. The committee also stressed the need to accelerate lending for those wishing to purchase housing units.
The ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural and other concerned authorities has in turn requested flexible urban planning and housing designs in order to raise population density in areas where no land for housing projects is available. It has also called for addressing the shortage of cadres by filling vacancies and cooperating with the private sector to provide needed expertise.
Other topics to be discussed on Monday by the Council include the annual report of the National Commission for Anti-Corruption for the fiscal year 1435/1436 AH; the report and proposal by the Health Committee to develop a medicinal herb system; and the proposal of the Committee on Water Agriculture and the Environment to amend the system for maintain water sources as per Royal Decree No. M/24 34/8/1400.
The Council is also expected to vote on recommendations of the Commission of Economy and Energy regarding the annual performance report of Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
Among the most prominent recommendations made by the committee on the report is the importance to stabilize the oil market through continued implementation of petroleum policies that take into account the common interests of both producers and consumers and present and future generations.
The Council will discuss the proposed amendments of the Haj Housing and Public Services Committee to some articles related to the expropriation of property for the public benefit as well as the 14-article regulations concerning fines and sanctions systems for public health violations.