The Damascus Rural branch of the Engineers Syndicate organized, on Thursday, a scientific seminar on the reality of urban planning in Syria, and the obstacles to implementing regional and regulatory plans, and ways to develop them to keep pace with sustainable development requirements and the reconstruction phase.
The seminar, held at the branch's headquarters in Damascus with the participation of specialists from Damascus University, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and the Engineers Syndicate, focused on mechanisms for transitioning urban plans from the preparation stage to implementation, and addressing problems hindering spatial development, leading to a more efficient and sustainable urban system.
Providing scientific and practical solutions
The head of the Damascus Rural branch of the Engineers Syndicate, Akram Tuma, stated during the seminar that the Syndicate's role is not limited to diagnosing urban problems and their effects on residential settlements, but also includes contributing to providing scientific and practical solutions and drawing an urban vision that responds to reconstruction requirements.
Tuma stressed the importance of addressing the causes of the growth of slums, which contributes to creating the necessary conditions for implementing regulatory plans on the ground. Meanwhile, Shaker Tounsi, head of the Urban Planning Committee at the Damascus Rural Engineers Syndicate, spoke about the negative and positive aspects of the reality of urban planning and their direct impact on development in residential settlements.
Identifying reasons for non-implementation of regional and regulatory plans
Dr. Arwa Sharaf al-Din, a faculty member at the College of Architecture at Damascus University, presented a critical reading of the reality of regional planning, and the administrative and financial obstacles preventing the implementation of plans prepared decades ago.
Engineer Hala Shabana and Engineer Rashid Kabbara from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing presented regulatory plans and mechanisms for converting them into executable projects. In a statement to SANA correspondent, Syrian Engineers Syndicate head Malik Hajj Ali stated that Syria is approaching a broad phase of work in the field of reconstruction, noting that its large needs require concerted efforts to improve the efficiency of urban planning and provide the necessary legal and technical environment to advance this sector.
Converting plans into tangible reality
Hajj Ali indicated that the seminar comes as a continuation of the "Airex 2026" conference, which concluded its work yesterday, with the aim of enhancing interest in the real estate development sector and its role in achieving sound urban development. He pointed out that the Syndicate contributes to preparing standards, requirements, and engineering codes that keep pace with the requirements of the coming stage.
In a similar statement, Sharaf al-Din emphasized that the presented research papers seek to answer a fundamental question regarding the reasons and obstacles to the non-implementation of regional and regulatory plans prepared decades ago and their conversion into tangible reality. She pointed out the importance of coordination with the Engineers Syndicate and relevant authorities to open a serious dialogue that ensures these plans do not remain gathering dust, and addresses the imbalance regarding the lack of coordination between different planning levels and the executive decisions accompanying them.
For his part, Tounsi stressed the importance of relevant authorities benefiting from the seminar's outcomes and recommendations to overcome existing obstacles and achieve practical steps towards developing the urban reality in Syria. Legislative Decree No. 5 of 1982 and its amendments form the legal framework regulating urban planning in Syria, as they determine the foundations and planning programs for organizing population settlements. More than four decades after its issuance, specialists and syndicate members raise the necessity of reviewing its provisions and updating them to align with urban and developmental changes, and help overcome obstacles hindering plan implementation and achieving balanced and sustainable urban development.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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