Government renews resolve to build 100,000 houses annually

Morocco's Prime minister, Driss Jettou, renewed on Tuesday the government's resolve to live up to its commitment to build 100,000 houses a year.

Speaking at question time of the Chamber of Advisers (parliament upper chamber), Jettou said building 100,000 low-price houses a year is part of the government's shanty towns fighting program.

The official pointed to difficulties hampering the sector despite the state's efforts, recalling that a population of 1,250,000 persons is living in unhealthy lodgings, including 540,000 in under-equipped and non-authorized housings. Some 700,000 live in shanty towns and decaying houses.

The head of the Moroccan government recalled priorities, as defined by King Mohammed VI in the speech opening the parliament fall session, including providing decent housing to citizens.

"What people really want is not for each issue to be regarded as a priority, but rather that concrete solutions be found to address the basic problems which are the major source of concern for the citizen. Actually, there are four priorities: productive employment, economic development, relevant education and decent housing. Those are the real national concerns on which efforts should be focused as a matter of priority," the sovereign had said.