DOHA: The Shura Council on Monday held its closing session of the third regular session of the first legislative term, corresponding to the 52ndannual session, in the Tamim bin Hamad Hall at the council’s headquarters, headed by Speaker of the Council. HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim.
During the session, the Council approved a draft law amending some provisions of the Penal Code issued by Law No. (11) of 2004, a draft law regulating district cooling services, a draft law on the protection of public electrical and water facilities, and a draft (law) issuing a unified industrial regulation law system for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, after reviewing the reports of the competent committees and discussing the provisions of the draft laws by the members.
The Shura Council also approved its final account for the fiscal year 2023, and the draft budget of the Council for the fiscal year 2025, after reviewing the report of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee on them.
During the session, the Council reviewed several reports on the participation ofthe members in regional and international parliamentary meetings and events.
It also approved three requests to extend the work of its permanent committees to study the issues referred to them by the Council. After that, Secretary-General of the Shura CouncilNayef bin Muhammad Al Mahmoud read Amiri Decree No. 40 of 2024 dissolving the third regular session of the first legislative term, corresponding to the fifty-second annual session of the Shura Council, as of Tuesday, the twenty-sixth of December, Al-Hajjah in the year 1445 AH, corresponding to the second of July 2024 AD.
At the end of the session, Al Ghanim delivered a speech on the occasion of the adjournment of the session, in which he expressed, on his behalf and behalf of the members of the Council, the highest expressions of thanks and gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his support and patronage of the Shura Council and his great confidence in its role, and His Highness's keenness to consolidate the principles of popular participation in decision-making. He added, "Thanks be to God and His guidance, we conclude today the work of the third session of the first legislative term. During this session, the Council held 33 regular sessions and 63 meetings of the permanent and temporary committees."
The Speaker of the Shura Council also pointed out that the work of the 52nd annual session was marked by the discussion and study of 24 draft laws and draft laws amending some provisions of existing laws.
He praised the fruitful cooperation between the Council and the esteemed government, appreciating the government’s response to the Council’s proposals and the ministers and officials’ acceptance of the Council’s invitations to attend its sessions to present strategic plans and answer members’ inquiries.
Al Ghanim reviewed the Council’s achievements, indicating that the Council approved 15 draft laws after extensive discussion, including the draft state budget for the fiscal year 2024, and important draft laws such as regulating real estate registration, judicial enforcement, and localizing jobs in the private sector.
He also pointed out that the Council discussed nine draft laws amending some provisions of the laws, and submitted 13 requests for general discussion and a proposal of desire on various topics such as rainwater accumulation, developing the tourism economy, supporting national and foreign investment, and procedures for domestic workers leaving the country. In the context of communicating with the community, he pointed out that the Council hosted members of educational institutions, and cooperated with the Ministry of Sports and Youth in implementing the "Simulation of Shura Council Sessions" programme, to enhance the role of youth in decision-making.
He touched on the role of the Council in Gulf, Arab and international parliamentary participation, stressing the Council’s support for just causes, most notably the Palestinian issue, and its condemnation of the aggression against Gaza, and urging other parliaments to support peace endeavours. At the conclusion of his speech, he thanked the chairs and members of the standing committees for their efforts, the media for their professional coverage of the Council’s work, and the General Secretariat for its continued support of the Council’s work.
