DOHA: The State Cabinet yesterday approved a draft decision by the Minister of Municipality and Environment establishing a committee that will oversee construction of pedestrian bridges to ensure they meet the required conditions and standards.
The Cabinet’s ordinary meeting at Emiri Diwan, chaired by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani also approved a draft decision to establish a permanent committee to manage seaports.
The Cabinet denounced the US passing of the JASTA bill as a violation of international law and the principle of the sovereignty of states. It said that passing the law represented a dangerous precedent in relations between countries and will have negative consequences.
The committee overseeing pedestrian bridges will supervise and monitor different phases of implementing the project, design, building and operation. It will follow up on the company carrying out the project and ensure that the construction is progressing within the set timeframe and is compatible with the designs. The committee will be chaired by a representative of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and will comprise representatives from all the authorities concerned, the QNA reported.
According to reliable sources, formation of the committee follows on a government decision to set up pedestrian bridges in traffic “black spots” across the city that witness more run-over accidents, like Industrial Area and Salwa Road. The first air-conditioned pedestrian bridge in the country was opened recently near Street No. 1 in Industrial Area. The role of the permanent committee to manage seaports is to operate the ports, in coordination with the authorities concerned. The committee will also follow up on and regulate work at the ports and oversee all employees there. It will also present a quarterly report to the Minister of Interior on the progress at seaports. The committee will be chaired by a representative of the Ministry of Interior and will have representatives of all designated authorities.
The Cabinet also approved the Minister of Public Health’s draft decision on reforming the Supreme Medical Committee and another decision on forming a medical committee. It also approved the application of provisions of Law No. 24 of 2002 on retirement and pension of Qatari employees of some entities.
The weekly meeting endorsed draft agreements on air services with Mongolia; and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of health between the Ministry of Public Health and Belarus’ Ministry of Health. The Cabinet reviewed the Minister of Interior’s memo on the final report with regard to the results of the work of the committee formed to study all aspects of using the smart card as proof of identity for GCC citizens and develop mechanism for it.
