Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz today chaired the Cabinet’s weekly meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace.
At the outset of the session, the Cabinet welcomed pilgrims who have been arriving in the Kingdom from all over the world to perform Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.
The King told the Cabinet that the Kingdom has prepared all possible means to enhance the safety and comfort of pilgrims, who are arriving in the Kingdom by land, sea and air to perform Hajj rituals in a climate of piety and submission to Almighty God.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Culture and Information, Dr Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al-Farsy, said that the Cabinet was briefed on reports submitted by bodies concerned with Hajj organisation to implement the Saudi government’s Hajj plan for this year, to provide safety and comfort for pilgrims and facilitate their performance of Hajj rituals.
The King urged all public and private bodies concerned with Hajj preparations to do their best in service of pilgrims, saying that the Kingdom is honoured by Almighty God to be the host of pilgrims to the holy places. The Cabinet requested that all pilgrims cooperate with authorities to comply with instructions, regulations and directives issued by various bodies in the Kingdom. The Cabinet called on all citizens and residents who have performed Hajj previously to comply with regulations for domestic pilgrims, to ease crowding during Hajj.
The King expressed his appreciation of the commencement of Aramco’s gas and oil development project in Haradh, which the Crown Prince inaugurated on Sunday. The King said that the project reflects the government’s commitment to support the national economy and promote development and foreign investment in the Kingdom.
The King briefed the Cabinet on recent meetings and consultations with leaders and officials of various friendly countries, which dealt with current developments in Arab, Islamic and international arenas.
The Minister of Culture and Information said that the Cabinet then reviewed the items on its agenda and issued the following decisions:
The Council of Ministers decided to implement measures to exempt deportees or the deceased from charges for renewal of traffic licences or fines for private cars. The measures state that if the charged deportee owns a private vehicle, the vehicle will be sold and its value used to settle outstanding charges. The remainder of the value will be returned to the car’s former owner.
The Cabinet ratified the general agreement on cooperation in economic, commercial, investment, technical, cultural, tourism, sports and youth fields between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Tajikistan, which was signed in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, on 21 May 2003.
The Cabinet approved arrangements on International Roads in the Arab Orient, in accordance with recommendations by the Minister of Transport.
A sum of SR7,000,000 has been assigned for construction of headquarters for Red Crescent and Arab Red Cross Societies in Riyadh city.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of Abdul Aziz bin Saad bin Mohammed Al-Anqari as Assistant Secretary General of the Supreme Judiciary Council; Dr Ahmed bin Salih bin Ali Al-Khalifa as Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Water and Electricity for Electricity Affairs; and Dr Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Nazer as Branch Director General at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Source: SPA
