Morocco's Minister of National Land Planning, Urban Planning, Housing, and City Policy, Samir Belfakih, announced that the government has resolved technical issues that had delayed the disbursement of financial support for a housing program. The program, which provides assistance to eligible citizens, had been hindered by technical problems related to the signing of decrees granting ministers the authority to approve the support.
According to Belfakih, the government has released a financial envelope of nearly 300 million dirhams to settle the outstanding cases. This move has allowed for the resolution of most files that were pending. The minister made the announcement during a press conference following a government council meeting. The housing support program aims to provide assistance to citizens in need.
The program is part of a larger royal initiative to support housing, which targets two categories of beneficiaries: those receiving 70,000 dirhams and those receiving 100,000 dirhams. The goal is to reach around 300,000 beneficiaries by the end of 2028. The Ministry is currently conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the first phase of the program to assess its achievements.
In addition to the housing support program, the Ministry is working to address urban planning issues in rural areas. Belfakih announced plans to introduce a special urban planning law for rural areas by 2027. The Ministry is also launching an ambitious project to provide support for around 100,000 rural homes. Beneficiaries will receive 40,000 dirhams, as well as technical assistance and studies.
The Minister also discussed his recent field visit to the cities of Smara, Laayoune, and Tarfaya. During the visit, he met with local stakeholders to discuss the implementation of city policy projects. One of the projects mentioned was the development of Laayoune city in 2024, which has a budget of around 680 million dirhams. The Ministry is contributing 300 million dirhams to the project.
The Laayoune project aims to improve living conditions for residents, while the Smara project includes the rehousing of residents from the Rabib and Kweiz camps. The Tarfaya project involves the rehousing of fishermen over a distance of 13 kilometers to improve their living conditions. These projects are part of the government's efforts to address housing and urban planning challenges.
The government's housing and city policy initiatives remain a top priority, according to Belfakih. The Ministry is committed to continuing its efforts to address the housing needs of citizens and improve living conditions in urban and rural areas. The Minister's announcement highlights the government's progress in resolving technical issues and moving forward with its housing support program.
Key points
- The Moroccan government has released 300 million dirhams to settle outstanding housing support cases.
- The housing support program aims to reach around 300,000 beneficiaries by the end of 2028.
- The Ministry plans to introduce a special urban planning law for rural areas by 2027.
