The following is the full statement issued on Friday:

“THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) unequivocally asserts that the acquisition of commercial lands is an open process, available to any interested companies or individuals.

CH&PA guarantees that all transactions follow established protocols rigorously, including those concerning the recent sale of commercial lands.

The Ministry publicly advertised a call for Expressions of Interest from housing developers, and multiple companies not only expressed interest but also met the outlined criteria unequivocally.

In our commitment to enhance the housing drive through Public Private Partnerships, we moved decisively to sell the lands.

Concerning pricing, a uniform rate of $30 million per acre was established for all developers. There were absolutely no preferential rates or special considerations afforded to any entity.

Per our standard procedures, all companies acquiring prime commercial lands are strictly required to adhere to the stipulated agreements regarding property use. Any deviation from these agreements will incur penalties, as detailed in the contractual arrangements.

The CH&PA stands firmly committed to ensuring a fair and transparent process for the allocation of both residential and commercial lands, fully aligned with national development goals. We urge the public to remain vigilant and not be misled by external narratives aiming to create discord or undermine the integrity of this process.”