Government to Establish Public Works Units in 19 Islands
Development of Public Works Units to begin across Maldives | Photo: @Adamshareefz via X
The Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, has announced that development will begin on new Public Works Units in 19 islands across the Maldives.
The announcement was made during his appearance on PSM News’ ‘Raajje Miadhu’ programme, where he outlined the administration’s efforts to enhance sustainability and infrastructure maintenance in inhabited islands nationwide.
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The initiative fulfils a key pledge by Mohamed Muizzu, who previously committed to establishing Public Works Units in 19 islands across 15 atolls by mid-2026.
The Minister stated that proper upkeep of infrastructure is essential for the country’s long-term sustainability and noted that strengthening the decentralisation system remains a priority. He indicated that progress has already been made in improving municipal services, with the establishment of the new units forming a central part of these efforts.
He further explained that preparatory work has been completed, including determining staffing requirements and resource allocation. The Ministry has requested the necessary resources from the Ministry of Finance and expects to receive materials within the next two months.
Under the decentralisation framework, municipal services remain the responsibility of individual island councils. However, the new Public Works Units will function as operational arms of the Ministry, providing technical and logistical support to councils.
The expansion will add 19 new units to the existing seven, creating a nationwide network of operational hubs. The initiative is expected to generate approximately 500 new jobs, including positions for drivers, administrative staff and technical personnel. The Ministry will also conduct training programmes for drivers required to operate the fleet assigned to the units.
According to the Ministry, there is strong public demand for the services provided by these units. The establishment of dedicated teams on the islands is expected to improve the efficiency of infrastructure development, repair and maintenance projects across the country.
