Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli denied Saturday 13/03/2021 reports circulated on social networks websites, claiming that the government plans to demolish some neighborhoods in Old Cairo and relocate its residents.

Madbouli’s remarks came during his inspection to several historical sites in Old Cairo, along with Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled anani, Cairo governor Khaled Abdel Aal, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Mostafa Waziri, and other officials.

Refuting these reports, Madbouli said that the government’s plan pays special focus on development and improving services, not demolishment or relocation of residents.

He stressed that the value of the Old Cairo not restricted to its rich heritage and antiquities, but also in the ancient handcrafts.

The government aims at protecting these handcrafts and developing them amid its development plan to whole Old Cairo.

These handcrafts are seen as an integral part of Old Cairo, the premier asserted, adding that relocating these professions from this area could have negative impacts.

The prime minister pointed out that Old Cairo neighborhoods include around 537 monumental buildings, registered in the World Heritage of UNESCO, which are planned to protected and reserved in the government’s development plans. 

MENA