CAIRO — The Egyptian governorates, headed by Cairo governorate, started Jan. 19 implementing the government's decision to paint building facades in a unified color for a more modern and "civilized" look. The decision stirred controversy among citizens on the costs involved.

The color white was selected for the coastal governorates, light beige for the governorates in Upper Egypt and dark beige for Greater Cairo.

The move comes after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi instructed the government Jan. 17 to deal with the buildings whose facades are still unpainted. The Cabinet confirmed in a statement on the same day that the facades of these buildings will have to be painted or legal action would be taken against their owners, provided that the facades of these buildings are painted in one color to avoid what the statement described as “a noncivilized scene.”

Local Development Minister Maj. Gen. Mahmoud Shaarawi said in a Jan. 20 statement that the Unified Building Law issued by Decree No. 144 of 2009 obliges owners of real estate property to paint the facades of their buildings. He pointed out that residents would be responsible for painting the facades of the dwelling they own. The owners of real estate units in the new cities planned by the government will also be required to implement this decision and will only be granted licenses for electricity and water supply after painting their properties.