DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday issued Law No. 11 of 2016 on State Audit Bureau and Law No. 12 of 2016 on the Official Gazette.
The law on State Audit Bureau enhances financial, administrative and functional independence of the Bureau and stipulates that it will directly report to Emir. It aims to ensure accountability in line with Qatar’s current comprehensive development.
The previous State Audit Bureau Law took effect in 1995 and the development witnessing the country required a new law in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
The law is applicable to all ministries and government entities whose budget comes from the government with the exception of the ministries of defence and interior and other military and security entities. The audit monitoring is limited to the extent of funding they receive from the government.
The law has also exempted companies and institutions fully owned by the government or by a legal public personality as well as companies in which the government has a share of not less than 51 percent, public benefit institutions and accounts and finance of retirement funds. In general, the audit is limited to private companies and institutions run with government funding.
The law aims to enhance monitoring and supervision of public money. It authorises the bureau to publish its report after removing confidential parts, in accordance with Lima Declarations and aims to increase transparency.
The bureau will have the right to use appropriate mechanism for auditing.
The organisational structure of the Bureau will be set by an Emiri decision. The Bureau chairman will be of the rank of a minister and will be appointed by an Emiri decree and is answerable to the Emir.
The Emir yesterday approved the Cabinet’s decision No. 29 of 2016 on forming the permanent committee for industrial area affairs.
The Emir also issued Decision No. 48 of 2016 re-forming the Board of Trustees of the Anti-Doping Laboratory. The Council shall be re-formed with Dr Mohammed Ghanem Al Ali Maadheed as the President and Dr Hamad Abdul Rahman Ibrahim as Vice-president. Dr Makoto Youeqi , Dr Jordi Segura, Dr Mohammad Saleh Guenbaz, Dr Mariam Ali Sultan Ali Maadheed and Dr Talal Mubarak Abdullah Al Sabah will serve as members on the board. The Emiri decision also stipulated that the membership of the council shall be for four years and can be renewable for a similar period.
The Emir also approved draft agreements on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, health and, skills development and recognition of qualifications between Qatar and India signed in Doha on June 5, 2016.
The Emir issued the Decree No. 42 of 2016 ratifying a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of higher education, research, vocational education and vocational training between the Qatar and Australia signed in Doha on January 25, 2016. The Decree shall have the force of law in accordance with Article 68 of the Constitution.
The Emir also issued the Decree No. 41 of 2016 inviting the Advisory Council to hold its 45th ordinary session on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
