(AFP PHOTO / STR)
Ibrahim Mehleb served as the Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Development under Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi.
During his time as housing minister, Mehleb issued amendments to the Construction Law, which must be ratified by the next parliament or the next president for the changes to come into effect. The amendment stipulates that 25% of the land area must be set aside for roads and gardens, down from the previous share of 33%.
Mehleb has made some controversial decisions during his time in office, including giving approval for the demolishment of old villas in Alexandria, seen by some as cultural landmarks.
Last week Amnesty International condemned the forced eviction of 1,200 families from informal settlements and called for “urgent action”. Amnesty International’s report said that the government offered 400 families housing in apartments two days after the eviction, but not before being forced to sleep in the streets.
It is the responsibility of the housing ministry to arrange for alternative housing in cases of eviction.
Mehleb was appointed the CEO and President of the Arab Contractors in 2001, having been appointed by former housing minister Ibrahim Seliman, who is awaiting trial on corruption charges. He held this position for 11 years, retiring in September 2012.
A former member of the now dissolved National Democratic Party (NDP), Mehleb was appointed to the Shura Council under former president Hosni Mubarak and served on the NDP’s High Council for Policies, alongside Gamal Mubarak.
Mehleb was among those accused of squandering public funds in the renovation of the presidential palace along with Mubarak and his sons.
He graduated from Cairo University in 1972 with a degree in Civil Engineering and joined the Arab Contractors in the same year.
In 1985 he became the Technical Manager of Saudi Arab Contractors Company, a post he held for two years.
