A total of 2,200 Omani families are expected to benefit from the government’s housing assistance programme valued at RO55 million ($142 million), a report said.

The Ministry of Housing distributed RO17 million ($44 million) as housing assistance for 713 beneficiary families till March, added the Oman Observer report.

A total of 514 families will benefit from loans up worth RO15 million ($38.8 million), the report said.

The housing assistance programme is being accorded special attention by the government which has allocated millions of rials for the scheme as it serves a wide segment of low-income citizens and social security families.

A total of 146 families in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate were granted RO3 million ($7.8 million), while in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate RO2.7 million ($7 million) has been distributed to families, according to the report.

The ministry also reviewed the mechanism for adoption of 10 new layouts in the Wilayat of Suwaiq, Samayil, Bahla and Khasab.

The ministry agreed to the provision of 9,000 plots for various uses including 7,000 for residential use in various governorates, an official said.