Bahrain's government has pledged to fast-track construction of thousands of homes to help end citizens' waiting-list ordeal.

This came as His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, attended the session.

His Majesty King Hamad had issued directives in his keynote National Day speech to build 40,000 units in the shortest period possible.

The session vowed to translate the King's directives on the ground - particularly housing, affirming keenness to improve citizens' living standards.

The ministerial committee for services and infrastructure has been assigned to draw up blueprints and timetables and study financing programmes.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince announced that all government departments had submitted their feedback regarding remarks in the National Audit Office report. He updated the session on procedures that will be adopted to deal with these remarks.

Minister of State for Information Affairs Sameera Rajab said government subsidies on basic commodities, including meat, will not be removed.

She dismissed reports, citing unnamed sources, that plans were underway to compensate Bahraini households with monthly allowances after removing the subsidies.

It follows an increase in the price of diesel for domestic consumption, which will almost double in three years - up from 100 fils at present. - TradeArabia News Service