Qatar's cabinet holds regular weekly meeting

HE Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani on Wednesday chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting at its Emiri Diwan premises.

Following the meeting, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud stated the following: aspirations of their peoples.

After that the Cabinet reviewed topics on the agenda as follows: First: To take the necessary measures to issue a draft law amending some provisions of the Traffic Law as Promulgated by Decree-Law No. 19 of 2007 after reviewing the Advisory Council's recommendation on the draft law.

Under the amendment, no motor vehicle, except motorcycles with a capacity of less than (50 cm 3 CC) can be driven only after its registration and obtaining a traffic license. The license shall be valid for one calendar year, starting from the date of its obtainment. Exceptionally, the license 's validity shall be two years for vehicles relating to the following bodies:

1. Ministries and other government agencies, and public institutions.

2. Diplomatic corps, international and regional organizations.

3. Sports clubs and federations.

4. Other bodies to be determined by a decision of the Minister.

The validity of private cars' license can be three calendar years from the date of its operation for the first time.

The car rental companies and offices, motorcycles rental and sales offices, showrooms vehicles sales, shops for cars decoration and garages shall not start their activity before obtaining a license from the licensing authority. The executive regulations of this law stipulates the conditions and procedures to obtain this license.

It is not permissible without a written permission of the licensing authority to put any obstacles or items which may block the traffic, impede pedestrians or distract road works.

It is not also permissible without a written permission of the licensing authority to display vehicles for sale in the fields, parking, sidewalks or land spaces.

The licensing authority shall remove the violation, and the offender shall pay the costs of removing the violation.

The draft law stipulates special provisions relating to the seize of the vehicles, the reconciliation in the specific crimes defined in the reconciliation list, the modification of the point system for traffic violations and the conciliation table for traffic crimes relating to the Traffic Law.

The cabinet took the necessary measures to issue a draft law amending some provisions of customs law issued by Law No. 40 of 2002 after examining the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the draft law.

According to the bill, employees of the General Authority of Customs are considered judicial control personnel during their work and within their powers.

The meeting took the necessary measures to issue a draft law annulling Law No. 14 of 1987 on imposing a fee on the issuance of certificates issued by the Ministry of Education, after examining the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the draft law.

In addition, the cabinet approved joining the database of the European Civil Aviation Conference's (ECAC) Aeronautical Information Service (AIS). It also approved Qatar Financial Markets Authority's accession to the Association of National Numbering Agencies (ANNA).

The cabinet took the necessary measures to ratify a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of education between the Supreme Education Council and Cuba's Ministry of Education.

Additionally, the cabinet ratified a draft agreement on air transport between the governments of Qatar and Kuwait as well as a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between the governments of Qatar and Moldova.

Finally, the meeting reviewed a draft decision by the minister of municipality and urban planning on conditions and technical standards for buildings and facilities used by people with disabilities, and took the necessary measures in this regard.