Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has said that the country’s New Administrative Capital (NAC) should reflect the new Egyptian state' image, and called for construction at the capital to continue within the set timeframe.

According to a statement by the presidency on Monday, El-Sisi discussed with several officials, including his aide for urban planning, Amir Sayed Ahmed, and the head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, Ehab Al-Far, the progress of work at the new capital and several projects implemented by the Armed Forces’ engineering authority nationwide.

El-Sisi was briefed on the construction of the new capital’s diplomatic district, which will be home to foreign embassies and consulates and regional and the bureaus of international organisations.

In 2015, Egypt started construction on the NAC, 45km east of Cairo, as part of the government's plan to reduce pressure on an overpopulated 20-million strong capital, expand urban areas, and develop the infrastructure in the country of 104 million.

The NAC, which is being built over 714 square kilometres by tens of thousands of workers, will be home to a government housing district, 29 ministries and other state institutions – including the cabinet and parliament buildings – and 20 residential neighbourhoods that can accommodate 6.5 million people.

Government offices were due to be relocated to the mega-city in 2020, but the step was delayed to this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, the meeting also saw discussions on the first phase of developing 1,500 villages nationwide under a national project to develop Egypt’s rural villages.

The officials also briefed El-Sisi on updates to the Ahl Misr Walkway across the Nile and Greater Cairo’s road networks, which aim to facilitate traffic and reduce pollution.

He was also presented with a plan to develop the Ezbet El-Haggana slum area, which is located on the Suez road at the 4.5-kilometre mark.

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