Egypt will increase spending on the maintenance of government facilities and public infrastructure after recent incidents highlighted shortcomings in upkeep, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said Monday. Speaking after a meeting with senior ministers in New Alamein City, Prime Minister Madbouly said the country had invested heavily in roads, ports, power plants and water facilities, but maintenance budgets have not kept pace. "Preserving these massive investments requires higher allocations for maintenance," he said. Planning Minister Rania Al-Mashat outlined a plan to give top priority to routine maintenance and close monitoring of infrastructure — from transport and utilities to airports — while channeling sufficient financing into ministerial budgets to cover the costs. Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said his ministry was ready to expand investment in maintenance while applying stricter standards to align with international benchmarks. Prime Minister Madbouly instructed the creation of a joint task force from the planning and finance ministries, along with other agencies, to map needs and set guidelines to sustain Egypt's infrastructure drive and protect state assets. The move reflects Egypt's push to safeguard recent megaprojects — from new highways to industrial zones — at a time when the government faces pressure to contain costs and attract foreign investment. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
