Najaf, May 18 (AKnews) - Two contracts to build a US$45 million housing project in Najaf have been put out to tender by the city's investment board.
545 housing units will be built as part of plans by Najaf provincial government to address one of the biggest issues facing the Shia city. Last week Housing Minister Mohammto resolveed al-Darraji said that two million homes need to be built to combat the housing crisis in the country.
The first contract, worth $31.7m, is for the construction of a housing project, including a tower block, in addition to two schools, a kindergarten and a shopping mall.
A factory to manufacture pre-fabricated homes is to be built under the second contract, worth $13.7m.
The housing crisis gripping Iraq has is the result of the rapid growth in the population in the country. International sanctions during Saddam's era and the US-led war in 2003 have meant that the state has failed to meet the needs of this burgeoning population.
Some observers blame the crisis on corruption and the misappropriation of state funds.
Najaf is one of the most prosperous provinces in Iraq, where some two million Shia pilgrims a year head to the holy city to visit the religious shrine of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, cousin of the Prophet Mohammed.
© AK News 2011
