(MENAFN) Bahraini government is planning to build thousands of residential units for nationals over the next five years, Gulf Daily News reported.

The paper cited Housing Minister Bassem Al Hamer as saying that the government plans to build and deliver more than 30,000 homes to Bahraini nationals.

He also said that a total of 51,000 applicants were still on waiting lists and that the ministry was going to solve the problem once and for all.

Al Hamer told the parliament that the number of applicants clustered since 1999 due to budget problems and 55 percent of the applications were submitted less than five years ago, while 45 percent are old.

“We are planning to give out 33,500 homes across Bahrain within the next five years as work goes on in East Hidd for 4,500 homes, 5,000 homes in Sitra, 15,000 at the Northern Town and 11,000 homes in other projects across the kingdom”,he said.

“Currently, there are plans for 4,000 homes in the Southern Governorate, 1,800 homes in the whole of Buhair, 3,200 in Salmabad and 830 in Louzy, near Hamad Town,” he added.