PM asks ministries to reach out to citizens

Manama : His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has stressed the need to reach out to the citizens, be informed about their concerns and solve their problems regarding services provided to them as soon as possible.

Chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday, HRH the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the constant follow-up by ministries’ officials on the citizens’ complaints and grievances to ensure that they are resolved accordingly and without delay. 

The Premier also instructed ministries and government departments to consolidate communication with the media in order to inform the citizens about government programmes aimed at fulfilling their needs.

Lauded

HRH Prime Minister  commended the role of the Interior Minister and the efforts of the security personnel in carrying out successful pre-emptive security operations, praising, in this regard, the vigilance of the security authorities and their success in uncovering the hotbeds of terrorist cells and discovering their hideouts.

He also praised the role of the security authorities in foiling an attempt to smuggle large quantities of narcotics into the Kingdom.

Congratulated

The Cabinet extended sincere congratulations to HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on the issuance of a Royal Order appointing him as Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, as well as on the Saudi people’s pledge of allegiance to him.

The session wished Prince Mohammed bin Salman every success in serving Saudi Arabia and its brotherly people, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Cabinet also lauded the vigilance of the security authorities in Saudi Arabia, and their success in foiling a terrorist attack targeting the Grand Mosque in Mekkah and worshippers there.

The session denounced the heinous crime emanating from a misguided ideology that has nothing to do with Islam, as it targeted the holiest and most sacred site on Earth  and aimed at shedding Muslims’ blood. It reiterated the Kingdom’s full-fledged support for and solidarity with Saudi Arabia, backing measures it deems necessary to protect its security and stability as well as to combat all forms of terrorism, lauding the efforts exerted under the leadership of King Salman, to serve Islam and champion the causes of Muslims.

Cabinet decisions

• The session decided to allocate 20 per cent government purchases and tenders, and a 10 per cent advantage in the tenders of service facilities within government departments to small and medium-sized enterprises, in line with HRH Premier’s directives, as highlighted in the memorandum presented by the Industry Minister. 

• The Cabinet approved a draft edict, highlighted in memorandum presented by the Minister of Interior, on rectifying the residence situation to receive a flexible worker permit. The bill requires the payment of the extension expired residence fees and those of delayed renewal or issuance of work permits for the previous year.

• The session endorsed a proposal by the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat) on the fees to be paid for the testing of pearl and gem stones, as agreed upon between Danat and the pearl and gemstone traders in Bahrain. An edict on those fees will be issued soon.

• The Cabinet approved a draft resolution regulating the issuance of licenses for the manufacture or production of narcotic drugs, as well as the import, export, re-export or transfer of narcotic substances and their customs clearance, and the pharmaceutical centres’ sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

• The session approved the ratification of the protocol amending the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion for Income Taxes, signed between Bahrain and Thailand during the recent visit of the Thai Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha,.The draft law was referred to the Legislative Branch as per the constitutional and legal procedures.