The Urban Planning Authority has asked the Ministries of Interior, Antiquities, Military Production, and Health to relay to the cabinet its intention to move its headquarters outside of downtown Cairo.
“We want the heart of Cairo to be an area of cultural heritage,” said authority president Assem al-Gazzar on Monday, adding that the move would not be a financial burden as the authority already owns premises in satellite cities. “And we will provide transport for our employees.”
Gazzar said he has also asked the Health Ministry to move its central laboratories to rural areas so as to alleviate traffic, adding that the Interior Ministry has agreed to move to the Police Academy in New Cairo, and the Ministry of Military Production has agreed to move to the Defense Ministry building.
“We are looking for an alternative location for the Justice Ministry,” he said. “And we are in contact with the minister of tourism to study the best ways of utilizing those buildings once they are vacant,” Gazzar said.
“We intend to move the rest of the ministries,” he said, adding that even the cabinet might be moved to the Smart Village on the outskirts of the capital.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
