President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has assured that government housing projects will be completed and handed over to beneficiaries before the end of the current administration's five-year term.

Speaking at the 61st Independence Day celebrations held at the Social Centre today, President Muizzu said the government is working to resolve housing challenges by handing over land plots allocated by the previous administration to their rightful recipients.

He said all land plots allocated in Hulhumale' Phase 2 will be handed over to eligible recipients, while reclamation work is ongoing in Hulhumale' Phase 3 to prepare additional plots for allocation.

The president also said land plots from Gulhifalhu are being prepared for handover, with reclamation work currently underway in Giraavarufalhu. He said the work is expected to be completed within the coming months.

President Muizzu said that when his administration took office, only 25 percent of the Fahi Dhiriulhun flats initiated during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration had been completed.

He said the reclamation of Rasmale', the government's largest housing project, will be completed by the end of this year as well.

“By the end of this term, we hope and assure that, for the first time in the history of the country, housing projects will be completed within the term of a government and handed over to beneficiaries,” President Muizzu said.

Under the government's housing programme, 15,000 plots will be allocated in Rasmale', while 7,800 flats will be developed in the Male' area.

The application deadline for the schemes expired on 15 June, and the list of beneficiaries is expected to be announced before the end of the year.

The government has already awarded construction contracts to several companies for the development of flats under the housing programme.