The Advisory Council will begin its 46th session today, continuing its constructive role in carrying out its tasks and duties set by the Constitution in the field of developing legislation and laws in response to Qatar’s national requirements for economic and social development and in assisting the government with good views on the implementation of its annual and future plans.
His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will inaugurate the new session with a comprehensive speech addressing a number of the most prominent local, Arab and international issues and the current and future policies of the State at the domestic and external levels, as well as plans to carry out projects and reforms during the new year.
A week before the start of the new session, His Highness the Emir issued a decree renewing the membership of some members of the Advisory Council and appointing 28 new members.
It is clear that the Emiri Decree appointing 28 new members was an affirmation of the keenness on supporting the Council with new distinct national cadres and expertise that have assumed or hold senior positions in the State in many sectors in order to enrich the role of the Advisory Council, and to respond to the needs of the next phase, including the adoption of legislation needed by the country, such as the electoral law and electoral system, during the next two sessions of the Council, which was extended to three years, beginning from July 1, 2016 and ending on June 30, 2019.
The Emiri decision also included for the first time the appointment of four Qatari women: Dr Hessa Sultan al-Jaber, Dr Ayesha Yousif al-Mannai, Dr Hind Abdulrahman al-Muftah and Reem Mohamed al-Mansouri.
There is no doubt that this appointment, although its first objective is to enrich the Council’s objectives and activate its role to suit the exceptional circumstances, is also a new affirmation of the leadership’s belief in the important role of Qatari women and their contribution to the nation’s development. The appointment also reflects the wise leadership’s support for the ambitions of Qatari women and enhancing their status at all levels.
In order to address the challenges created by the unjust siege, Qatar has moved to end and prevent it from achieving its objectives. It launched creative initiatives in every field to assert self-reliance and to provide the needs of the citizens and residents, accompanied by the issuance of a lot of initiatives and laws, legislation and facilities that remove obstacles and stimulate the energies so that everyone works to serve the nation, that does not accept intervention in its affairs or attempts to influence its independent decision.
Since the first day of the siege, Qatar has succeeded in overcoming its effects, succeeded in finding alternative routes after the closure of the land port, and has concluded several agreements on air transport, new shipping lines that provided for the country’s needs of various goods.
The official opening of the Hamad Port is the most prominent event as Qatar’s gateway to the world.
Qatar has also been able to compensate deposits withdrawn from banks and to support the tourism sector after the decision to exempt the citizens of 80 countries from visa requirement. Qatar had previously maintained reserves of stored raw materials which gave it an opportunity to find alternatives to ensure cost-effective implementation of the projects on time.
There is no doubt that the next phase will require other things to enhance the trend towards sustainable development and to create long-term sustainable solutions, achieve growth, enhance productive efficiency, export and long-term utilisation of resources, as well as small and medium industries to build a solid economic base that meets the needs of the country and citizens and provides the opportunity and creates the conditions for transforming oil and gas-rich wealth into sustainable assets and capital.
The next phase will also require the establishment of commercial and customs relations and partnerships with various countries, as well as the maintenance of infrastructure and investment in human capital through the development of Qatari capabilities, the recruitment and retention of talent, and the promotion of reforms and performance development in government sectors.
Despite the fact that Qatar has achieved many successes and achievements, still much work is needed to strengthen the domestic front and fortify it and enable the national economy to overcome the effects of the siege.
This means that the next phase needs national cadres, programmes and projects that support the efforts of the government and its programmes, strengthen the national structure and the domestic front, preserve the achievements of the homeland, complete the infrastructure projects associated with organising the 2022 World Cup, and work to achieve the goals set by the wise leadership to improve the homeland and citizens and provide all requirements and services to citizens and residents in accordance with the highest international standards.
The Advisory Council’s new session is faced with responsibilities and duties different from the previous ones, adding to the work of the Council and enhancing its role to address new challenges.
The 45th session of the Advisory Council recorded several achievements. The Council took part in many Arab and international meetings that dealt with the most important issues. The promotion of the homeland and the citizen was the top priority of the Council during its session which addressed several draft laws related to many areas such as the national service, national address, government schools, penalties, regulating food and water supply, regulating the entry and exit of expatriates, state budget, economic zones besides other issues and projects.
The Advisory Council is concerned with discussing draft laws and decrees which are referred to it by the Cabinet, as well as the general policy of the State in the political, economic and administrative spheres, and the State’s affairs in the social and cultural fields in general.
The Advisory Council also discusses the draft budget of major general projects and follows up the activities and achievements of the State in all matters, whether or not these issues have been referred to it by the Council of Ministers.
The Council is also competent to pose questions to the ministers with a view to clarifying a specific matter concerning a subject, as well as the request for data on matters from the Council of Ministers for matters related to the general policy of the government and by the minister concerned for matters of his ministry. The Council makes recommendations in the above mentioned matters.
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