Program to support projects OK’d

The Council of Ministers approved a national program to support the management of public sector projects so as to improve their efficiency and ensure quality.

Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, chaired the weekly session of the Council of Ministers at Al-Salam Palace here on Monday afternoon, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Minister of Social Affairs and Acting Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi said the program, which aims at raising efficiency and quality in the implementation of projects by applying the best global practices, will be supervised by a board of directors headed by the minister of economy and planning. 

The program’s goals include setting necessary criteria to determine the public agencies whose projects need special offices to follow up and coordinate their management. 

The goals also include developing scientific and practical methodology to manage public sector projects by using the best global practices, in addition to contributing to improve the performance of Saudis working in project management offices.

Al-Qasabi said the Cabinet approved the new bylaw with regard to issuing temporary and seasonal work visas after reviewing the decision of the Shoura Council and a report of the Ministry of Labor. 

The Cabinet also authorized the chairman of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy to discuss with the Canadian side a framework cooperation agreement on the peaceful use of atomic energy between the two countries and duly sign it.

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the outcome of the recent talks between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Yemen’s President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi and the King’s emphasis on continuing total support to Yemen’s government and its people in restoring legitimacy and stability in the country. 

While condemning the recent terror attacks in Bahrain, the Council of Ministers said that such acts are aimed at undermining the security of the country and shedding the blood of innocent people.