Iraq has approved a project to build a large city in its Western Al-Anbar governorate within post-war construction plans to tackle a housing crisis, the local media reported on Wednesday.

Planning Minister Nouri Al-Dulaimi on Tuesday endorsed the Habbaniya project which involves the construction of nearly 14,000 houses in phase 1, Aliqtisad News network and other publications said.

Dulaimi said phase 1, to be launched next month and completed within five years, would be executed by Trac Development Group of South Korea and is the first of three phases of one of the largest housing projects in the OPEC member.

He said all project stages would be completed within 11 years and it comprises shopping malls, hospitals, schools, roads, power and water facilities, and factories.

"We we have finished all necessary preparations for this strategic project and hope it would be launched next month," he added.

(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

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