Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Monday that residential construction will not be permitted in some neighbourhoods in Cairo and Giza governorates and areas that have reached their maximum population density. "Those wishing to build can do so in new cities," Madbouly added.
"In other areas, building will be allowed if people commit to the set maximum height... maybe four or five storeys," he stated.
Municipal authorities were ordered in late May to suspend issuing licences for constructing, expanding, increasing storeys, upgrading, or even supporting buildings in Cairo, Giza, Qalioubiya, and Alexandria, among other cities.
Work on buildings under construction will be halted until it is guaranteed all the construction requirements are met, according to the new decision.
The prime minister noted that the six-month building suspension is limited to housing units, not service buildings, such as hospitals and schools.
He added that the decision aims at salvaging cities and ensuring the flow of movement. He warned that the random urbanisation the nation had witnessed over the past 40 years needs billions of pounds to be fixed.
Madbouly's remarks were made during an inspection tour of a number of development projects.
