The Mumbai skyline. After the Supreme Court

It is time the UK government took a fresh look at its housing ambitions and admitted what the industry has been saying for more than a year: that they are simply not achievable.

These were policies designed for a boom, not possibly the worst housing slump since the second world war, and there should be no embarrassment in admitting as much.

The government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of 30,000 houses in Lahore and Faisalabad on Thursday.

The Government and the World Bank signed yesterday three loan agreements providing additional financing of US$98 million for the Road Sector Assistance Project; US$43 million for the North East Housing Reconstruction Program; and US$10 million for the Education Sector Development Project, the World Bank said.

Although the urban poor contribute significantly to urban economy, their problems, specially the housing problem, is never considered seriously by any government, said the speakers at a workshop in the city on Sunday.

They said the urban poor live in slums and are subject to frequent evictions.

The workshop titled 'House for the urban poor: Past experiences and present needs' was organised by Onneyshan, an NGO, with the assistance of Manusher Jonno Foundation at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Shillong: The ambitious housing project of the State Government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for urban poor people of the city will be completed within 18 months.

The two-phase housing project estimated at Rs 30.44 crore has been handed over to Hindustan Prefab Limited (HPL) for execution and the housing units will be constructed in a nine-acre area at Lumphira in Nongmynsong on the city outskirts to accommodate 600 families.

The four-day real estate fair styled 'Abasan Mela' began in the port city yesterday with a view to bringing the real estate companies, intending customers and manufacturers of construction materials under one roof.

Bangladesh Real Estate Directory (BD-RED) has organised the fair for the sixth time at the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

Acting Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) M Manjur Alam formally inaugurated the fair in the afternoon while Lion District 315-B1 Zone Chairperson MN Karim was the special guest.

The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) has completed construction of 421,000 houses in the quake affected region, the authority chairman Altaf M. Salim said here on Wednesday.

Addressing a certificate distribution ceremony for the participants of ERRA Interns and Volunteers Programme (EIVP), Salim said the authority was actively working in 12 rehabilitation sectors where housing, education, health and livelihood were being given top priority.

The government has proposed Iran to participate in the upcoming mega housing projects in the country.

The proposal was made during a meeting between Federal Minister for Housing and Works Rehmatullah Kakar and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakeri here on Friday. They discussed bilateral cooperation in different sectors, including housing and construction sectors.