Eng. Nafisa Hashim, First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing, revealed that she will present a note to the Minister of Housing and New Urban Communities next Thursday to inquire about the ministry's plan regarding the department of public utilities which is affiliated to the Ministry of Housing and whether it will be transferred to the Ministry of Public Utilities, noting this department does not represent a burden on the Ministry of Housing. She added that main entities such as the National Authority for Potable Water and Sewage and the Holding Company for Water and Waste Water should be affiliated to the New Ministry given that they are considered an obstacle to housing, while the existing department of public utilities can be used in managing coordination with the other ministries without burdening the Ministry of Housing. This department is an information center which allows the Ministry of Utilities to define the areas which need access to water and sanitation as well as establishes coordination between the Ministry of Housing and the other ministries, she said. Hashim explained that this department has 9 employees, including 6 well-trained engineers according to high standards. This has contributed in providing data on the design capacity, productivity, the per capita until 2013, and the targets of the ministries of housing and utilities until 2017. Moreover, Hashim emphasized that her Thursday meeting with the Minister of Housing will determine whether this department will continue to affiliated to the Ministry of Housing or be merged with the Ministry of Public Utilities.
