Business & Money | Wednesday 3 June, 2015 1:18 am |

A Shoura Council committee has asked the Ministry of Haj to prepare an integrated study for the Mina holy site which will ensure smooth movement of Hajis between Mina and other holy sites and expand accommodation capacity in Mina.

This came following the 44th ordinary session of the Council where members discussed a report prepared by the Committee of Haj, Housing and Services based on the regular report of the Ministry of Haj read out by the committee chairman Mohamed Al-Mutairi and Assistant House Speaker Yahya Al-Samaan said.
The committee also called for completion of cities for Hajis at entry points, removal of obstacles facing the grouping process of hajis and unification of field controlling organs on accommodation facilities.
Commenting on the committee’s report, one member said that in-land Haji service providers used to receive their tents late at the Mina site, a matter that creates problems for them, notably during the Haj season.

Concerning illegal (unlicensed) Hajis, one member proposed the erection of an electronic gate in Makkah in the hope that it will minimize the infiltration of illegal Hajis. Other members called for intensification of campaigns against transportation of illegal Hajis and imposition of strict penalties on them.
Later, Council members explored a report prepared by the Committee of Education and Scientific Research on the promotion of innovative and creative projects read out by the committee chairman Mishal Al-Sulami.

The 11-point project aims to raise the private sector share to the national economy through boosting creativity projects and patents, and turning them into profitable economic outputs that could add to the gross domestic product.

Commenting on the report, a number of council members stressed the importance of the project and how it could enhance new and creative ideas. On the other hand, the council listened to a report prepared by the Committee of Human Rights and Regulatory Organs on a project related to the National Anti-Corruption Committee read out by the committee chairperson Thuriyyah Obaid.

Earlier, the council approved a draft agreement between the Ministry of Interior and its counterpart in Germany on the development and training of border guards in the Kingdom following discussion of a report presented by the Committee of Security Affairs read out by the committee member Maj. Gen. Abdullah bin Abdulkarim Al-Sadoun.