New housing complex for Baghdad

 

By Mohammed Mustafa

 

Azzaman, July 10, 2005

 

A state-run construction firm has completed 70% of a major housing project in Baghdad, the Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction said.

 

The project in Sabaa Abkar consists of 48 buildings and is expected to cost $5 million.

 

The project covers an area of 72,500 square meters and includes a school, car parks and paved roads in addition to a 240-square meter market place.

 

There are two flats in each floor of the three-storey buildings.

 

The flats are spacious to meet needs of traditionally large families in Iraq.

 

The average area of each of the 288 flats is 115 square meters.

 

The project is one of several currently being implemented in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces.

 

The country faces an acute housing crisis which has seen property prices rise to unprecedented levels.

 

All housing contracts in the country, worth millions of dollars, are being executed mainly by state-run construction companies.

 

The state-run al-Mansour Contracting Firm is building the Sabaa Abkar flats and is currently involved in major housing projects in Iraq.