The Housing Ministry has announced that the opportunity to apply for land and flats for residents of Male' for over 20 years will be opened during this presidential term.

Speaking at a rally held by the MDP in Galolhu yesterday, President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih said he would set up a housing bank to build land in the next term and provide soft loans with long-term repayment. There are also people who have been living in the city for over 20 to 35 years and a scheme will be launched to provide land and flats to them.

"It is now difficult for people like this to get land from their own island. They cannot get land from an island because they have not lived there for more than a certain period of time. Our policies prevent them from getting land from the city. We will provide flats and land to those who have been on the register for more than 20 years and those who have lived in the city for more than 20 years,” he said.

Minister of State for Housing Akram Kamaluddin told One Online that applications for the new scheme will be opened during this term.

"The discussions are in that stage now. Applications will be opened this term. The President said so," Akram said.

Akram did not say where the new housing scheme would allocate land and flats. However, this government has allocated land under Binveriyaa Scheme in Hulhumale', Gulhifalhu and Giraavaru Falhu.