Colloquy on Arab cities recommends respect of environment in town planning

A colloquy on new cities in the Arab world held in the Moroccan southern city of Agadir last week recommended the respect of economic and environmental requirements in town planning.

Delegates of Arab cities and about one hundred Arab and international experts stressed the importance of rational and rigorous planning of urban expansion to address adequately the crucial problems entailed by demographic growth in matters of housing, equipment, employment and others.

Participants also discussed means of promoting partnership between the public and private sectors in planning and financing new urban centers and of introducing the social and environmental dimension in any planning.

A call was also launched to promote partnership among Arab states and between Arabs and international institutions.