President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has pledged to reclaim land and to include a slipway during the project to develop the harbor of Faresmaathoda island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll.

He made this commitment while speaking to residents of the island, as part of his tour of some islands in the south of Maldives which he began on Sunday morning.

The meeting saw the president committing to implement the Faresmaathoda harbor development project in alignment with the aspirations of the island community.

In addition to this, he stated that his pledge to provide housing solutions for the entire nation during his five-year term, would address the island community's housing issues as well.

Touching upon the request made by the island council for road development, Muizzu noted that a project to develop the island’s roads, would be implemented as part of his pledge to carry out road development projects across all cities and “significant” islands.

The president also shed light on the dire economic situation in the Maldives and added that his administration has inherited many bills owed to locals that are yet to be paid, totaling MVR nine billion and MVR 120 billion in debt to foreign entities.

Muizzu stressed that the country’s economic situation is on a downward spiral because of such unpaid debts.

He added that his administration would refrain from issuing new banknotes into circulation, in a bid to repay these debts.