The conference titled "Transferring Lands to Youths under the Family Protection Act: Challenges and Policy Recommendations" was held recently. The event was attended by senior government officials, including Dr. Seyyed Javad Sadat, Head of the Center for Development and Strategic Policies of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development; Dr. Hadi Abbasi, Deputy Minister of Housing and Construction; Dr. Eghbal Shakouri, a member of the Civil Commission of the Parliament; Dr. Arsalan Maleki, Managing Director of the National Land and Housing Organization; and Dr. Hossein Jannati, Director General of Roads and Urban Development of Tehran Province.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Sadat highlighted the Ministry's commitment to implementing new policies to support the family and youth population, including the law on family and youth population protection and land transfer. He emphasized that granting 99-year leases on village lands is a key strategy currently being pursued by the Ministry. This innovative approach to land distribution and housing construction is aimed at enabling people to build homes in accordance with their desired styles and tastes.

Dr. Jannati echoed these sentiments, stating that efforts are underway to involve applicants more actively in the housing construction process. This is aimed at expediting the transition of allocated lands to the construction phase with government support.

Dr. Maleki, as the third speaker, shed light on the legal aspects of land transfer, stating that government lands originate from national lands and are considered public property. He reminded attendees that post-Islamic Revolution, several laws were enacted to facilitate land transfer for housing revival and residential needs. These laws align with the Urban Land Law of 1987.

The conference continued with Dr. Shakouri, a member of Parliament, highlighting the significant strides made in the Family Protection law, which for the first time includes land grants under the purview of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. He noted that while progress had been slow initially, the momentum for land grants has picked up significantly in recent months.

Dr. Abbasi, Deputy Minister of Housing and Construction, stressed the importance of land in policy-making discussions. He also highlighted that land investment is risk-free and has high capital value. He further explained that rising land prices are not due to owners' efforts but rather external actions and urban growth.

As the last speaker, Dr. Abbasi also called for measures to encourage individuals to invest their capital in housing production, emphasizing that income generation should be through production rather than land acquisition.

In the end of this conference, the scientific chairperson stated that the conference was a timely and important event, given the growing demand for housing in Iran. He added, the government's commitment to supporting the family and youth population is commendable, and the land transfer program is a positive step in the right direction. However, it is important to ensure that the program is implemented effectively and efficiently, and that all eligible households are able to benefit from it.