Saudi housing initiative: Preparatory talks under way 

(MENAFN - Arab News) A preparatory meeting of the Saudi initiative for housing began at Al-Faisaliah Hotel, Riyadh, Tuesday under the patronage of Prince Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.

The Saudi Center for Strategic Studies (SCSS) is adopting the initiative, which is launched under the motto "Toward Sustainable Communal Development" and comes within the GCC economic welfare fund program. The GCC countries together with the British government are the initiators of the program.

Prince Turki said the program comes within the framework of continued cooperation between the British government and the GCC countries.

He stressed that the initiative came in the context of the SCSS' keen desire to contribute to the implementation of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah's directives on the provision of suitable housing units for Saudi citizens together with the establishment of a Ministry of Housing to realize the goal.

The current initiative wants to look at the housing issue from a comprehensive perspective, where efforts are to be directed toward building sustainable communities that will cater integrated services, such as water, energy and creation of job opportunities for youth, Prince Turki pointed out.

He said the king's initiative was a rare chance to unify efforts for development of a community based on the principles of sustainable development, where water and energy could be rationalized, health and educational services provided, and jobs made available for the Saudi young generations.

A number of local and foreign experts on areas like housing and sustainable development are taking part in various sessions of the conference.