Bahrain has given a BD2 billion ($5.3 billion) boost to housing with the launch of the National Housing Scheme last June.

Under the ambitious plan, four new towns are to be built with housing for a total of 250,000 people, besides a number of housing units in various parts of the country.

The towns are to be built in East Sitra, North Bahrain, West Hamad Town and East Muharraq.

The BD2 billion National Housing Scheme aims at providing every citizen with adequate housing. The emphasis will be on improving housing in villages but towns will also benefit if they lack necessary facilities, said Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, who stressed the need to carry out the projects on a fast-track

The new towns are expected to have housing as well as schools, parks, hospitals, social centres and all the necessary facilities of a modern town.

The scheme is being implemented by the new housing and construction committee, headed by Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

In selecting these areas, consideration was also given to the geographical aspects and the housing needs of the nearby population. Studies are to be conducted to determine the requirements and to come up with an execution plan for the projects.

One key aim behind the schemes is to cut the waiting list for Government homes to about three years.

''The government is anxious to adopt innovative planning strategies to create a number of modern 'cities' on areas of land to be reclaimed for the purpose of this new substantial housing and urban development programme," says a statement from the Ministry of Housing.

"The wish is not to create existing living patterns and housing solutions but rather to adopt new approaches which make use of the exciting opportunities that technological advancement has made available, to create self-sustaining urban areas with identifiable centres," the statement adds.

The following areas have been earmarked for the new towns, according to the ministry: