Gov’t imposes six-month ban on construction permits, halts construction of private housing in crackdown on building code violations: Local Development Minister Mahmoud Shaarawy announced on Monday a six-month ban on construction permits in urban centers including Greater Cairo and Alexandria after President Abdel Fattah El Sisi ordered the government to halt construction in response to continued building code violations. The ministry ordered all ongoing construction of private housing to stop until owners present plans for the building that meet legal requirements such as allowing for enough parking spots, Shaarwary said. The decision doesn’t apply to construction work at national projects commissioned by authorities.

Background: The decision comes after parliament approved in March the Unified Building Code, a long-awaited piece of legislation that gave the government sharper teeth to clamp down on illegal construction. Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly in April invoked the emergency law to order local authorities to take “firm action” to stop violations.