File picture of Wakra Station under construction.
DOHA: The Cabinet, in its regular meeting yesterday, approved a draft law regulating railways. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the meeting which was held at its headquarters at the Emiri Diwan. Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, H E Dr Hassan bin Lahdan Al Hassan Al Mohannadi discussed the details.
The approved law aims to regulate the establishment and operation of railways, in terms of safety requirements and the provision of operation permits.
The provisions of the law says that the Ministry of Transport and Communications will have a number of powers in that regard. Firstly, it will plan and regulate the building and operating of railway networks in the country.
Secondly, it will ensure that permits issued have satisfied all their conditions technically and in terms of safety. It will also issue the necessary permits for building the infrastructure and any work related to maintenance of the railways. Their fourth responsibility will be adopting the technical requirements for the railway network systems and its infrastructure.
The draft law also stated the responsibilities of Qatar Rail, the authority related to safety in the ministry. It also discussed the types of permits issued and the requirements for them.
The cabinet denounced the Syrian regime’s continued attack on Eastern Ghouta, in clear violation of UN Security Council resolution no. 2401 issued last Saturday unanimously. The resolution calls for an immediate end to hostilities in Syria for 30 days, to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of the sick and injured.
They called on the international community to stop the humanitarian crisis and to face the Syrian regime’s challenge of the international law and resolutions of international legitimacy. The council said that the failure to commit to the UN Security Council resolution will lead to further bloodshed of the innocent in Syria.
The cabinet also expressed their regret at the announcement of the United States’ intention to move their embassy to occupied Al Quds in mid-May. The cabinet stressed their rejection to the move, saying it was contradictory to international law and UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions related to the Palestinian issue.
They said that such a move will also heighten tension in the region and become an obstacle to the already difficult peace talk. This will in turn prevent any fair and comprehensive resolution that acknowledges the rights of the Palestinian people led by their right to establishing an independent state with East Al Quds as its capital. The cabinet expressed their hope that the United States will reverse their decision.
Afterwards, the cabinet discussed some of the subjects on their agenda. They first approved a draft law regulating railways. The law aims to regulate the establishment and operation of railways in the country, in terms of safety requirements and the provision of operation permits. The provisions of the law says that the Ministry of Transport and Communications will have a number of powers in that regard.
Firstly, they will plan and regulate the building and operating of railway networks in the country. The secondly, they will ensure that permits issued have satisfied all their conditions technically and in terms of safety. They will also issue the necessary permits for building the infrastructure and any work related to maintenance of the railways. Their fourth responsibility will be adopting the technical requirements for the railway network systems and its infrastructure.
The cabinet approved the draft decree licensing Qatar Fuel (Woqood) the use of the land around Hamad International Airport to build a gas station. It approved its draft decision to amend the organization of some of the administrative units comprising the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the appointment of its competence.
The cabinet also approved the draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the State of Qatar and the Ministry of Higher Education in the Sultanate of Oman to cooperate in the fields of sciences and higher education.
The cabinet approved joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a dialogue partner. The SCO is an intergovernmental, political, economic and security organisation. One of aims of the organisation is promoting mutual trust and good neighbouhood among member states.
It also aims to promote effective cooperation in the fields of politics, trade, economy, technology research, culture, education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection and other fields.
