The reconstruction and the strategic planning committee of Karbala council in Iraq has awarded a local firm the contract for the first major residential project in eastern Karbala at a cost of $63m, Aswat al-Iraq has reported. "An Iraqi firm was awarded the license to establish 500 residential units in al-Hindiya district in eastern Karbala, the first of its kind in the province," head of the council, Abbas Nasser Hassani said. "The project will be implemented on 60 donums within two years," he added.