Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has extended the bid deadline on a contract worth an estimated $60m for the construction of public buildings at an affordable housing project. Firms are now required to submit bids by 26 November instead of the previous closing date of 27 October.

The project entails expanding existing facilities in the city of Wafra, located in the Southern Ahmadi governorate. The package includes the construction of schools, markets and mosques in block 1.

In July, the PAHW awarded a $127m deal to the local Combined Group Contracting Company for the construction and maintenance of public buildings at area E of the Sabah al-Ahmed residential town scheme. The buildings will include a mosque, police station, library and schools.

In June, the housing authority awarded the local Al-Najjar & Rashid General Trading and Contracting a two-year contract worth about KD6.5m ($22.5m) to build three primary schools in area D of the Sabah al-Ahmed project.

In August 2011, the local Alamiah Building Company was awarded a $123.5m deal by the PAHW to build public buildings at area C of the development.

The schemes are part of Kuwait’s efforts to provide housing for the country’s rapidly growing population, which is expected to increase by 63 per cent over the next 20 years, rising to 5.4 million people in 2030 from its current population of 3.4 million.