*** ----> Finding moments of joy amid the pandemic | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Finding moments of joy amid the pandemic

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Finding moments of joy amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic has become a task on its own. The wide-spread outbreak has turned happy cries, surprises and even graduations a thing of the past. However, people in East Hidd found one such moment yesterday, which made their eyes watery but with joy.  Those happy moments were created by the Ministry of Housing. And the scene was the ministry handing over several housing units to beneficiaries in Al Qulai’a district in East Hidd as directed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

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The project is also a crucial part of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directive to distribute 40,000 housing units to citizens in the Kingdom. The East Hidd Town Project includes 4,306 units and 496 housing plots which can accommodate up to 28,000 people. In its first phase, 740-units were completed and handed over. Muhammad Rashdan, the Director of the East Hidd City project, said the Al Qulai’a housing units were distributed on time by the ministry in coordination with the departments of housing services and projects.

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Beneficiaries were handed over keys after they signing a contract and opening a bank account with the housing bank.  “Following which, they called the ministry’s hotline and a delivery time was fixed,” said Rashdan. The ministry had ensured the unit’s readiness before handing over as directed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Rashdan added.

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He stressed that the ministry attaches high priority in maintaining quality. “The project draws inspiration from traditional Bahraini architectural styles and the coastal environment of the Hidd,” said Rashdan, the manager of the East Hidd project.  The ministry, he said, prepared the designs by preserving general characteristics and social fabric of Hidd.  The units enjoyed great attention to detail and feature interior courtyards.

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Coastal walkways, parks and children’s play areas make the project further attractive.  “The approach is in line with the government’s keenness to implement the eleventh goal of The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for “Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” He indicated that the speed in finalising these procedures stems from the ministry’s keenness on meeting the schedule of distributing 5,000 housing units and services ordered by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.