CAIRO — The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced April 24 the start of the restoration of the Gunpowder Factory, known as the Gabkhana, which consists of a warehouse and factory of weapons and ammunition dating back to the era of Muhammad Ali Pasha, in the Istabl Antar area in the capital Cairo.

The restoration project of the Gabkhana comes after years of neglect of the site, which saw the proliferation of garbage and stray dogs, while random buildings have been constructed around the historical site. 

The project comes as part of a wider plan by the Egyptian government to develop the old historical districts of Cairo. According to a Cabinet statement in October 2021, the plan consists of revitalizing Old Cairo by removing randomly built buildings and replacing them with housing units. The plan also includes the building of several commercial and cultural centers in the area. 

Mustafa Waziri, secretary-general of the state-owned Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspected April 24 several Islamic antiquities in Cairo, including the Gabkhana, to follow up on the restoration works in the area.