Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy has issued a directive to halt the issuing of building permits in major cities across Cairo, Giza, Qaliubiya, and Alexandria governorates for six months.
In a statement on Monday, Shaarawy instructed governors to halt building permits effective as of 24 May.
Excluded from the directive are industrial, tourism, government installation and national project licences, which will continue to be issued.
Shaarawy said that his ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Interior to ensure the decision’s implementation, and that violators will be dealt with decisively.
The decision came after President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi last week instructed the government to halt all construction activities, except for national projects, in Cairo, Alexandria and Giza, during the upcoming period.
