Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, held a meeting with Engineer Nafisa Hashem, Advisor to the Minister of Housing and Supervisor of the Housing and Utilities Sector at the Ministry, to discuss a draft law aimed at amending specific provisions of the Building Law No. 119 of 2008. The meeting was attended by several officials from the Ministry of Housing, the General Organization for Urban Planning, and the National Housing and Building Research Center.
Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny opened the meeting by emphasizing that Building Law No. 119 of 2008 was issued based on a new methodology that differs from previous laws. It unified all regulations related to the construction system into a single law, structured logically according to its chapters (urban planning, urban coordination, regulation of construction activities, preservation of real estate assets, and penalties). The minister stressed the commitment of the Ministry of Housing to monitor the effects of the law’s implementation since its issuance, as well as address the challenges and obstacles citizens and professionals face in applying the law.
The Minister of Housing also praised the efforts in preparing the proposed amendments and the coordination between the Cabinet’s Advisory Board, the Ministry of Justice, and all relevant ministries.
During the meeting, Engineer Nafisa Hashem reviewed the proposed amendments related to urban planning, which included redefining the responsibilities of the Supreme Council for Urban Planning and clarifying the duties of the General Organization for Urban Planning. Additionally, strategic plans were replaced with urban development plans to broaden the planning concept.
The amendments also addressed the regulation of construction activities to simplify procedures for citizens and ensure structural safety while tackling unauthorized construction. Regarding the preservation of real estate assets, an effective mechanism was introduced to implement the provisions related to the separation of owners’ unions in residential communities to enhance maintenance management.
