DOHA: Rules to tighten control over shisha joints are likely to see the light of day soon.
Regulations have been framed by the Minister of Economy and Commerce and the Cabinet approved the draft at its weekly meeting yesterday,.
Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported but gave no details about the draft rules. It said the Cabinet also approved several other draft decisions of the Minister. One was about a list the Minister issued of shops and other outlets that now require licensing by the ministry to operate.
On April 14 this year Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued a law (No. 5 of 2015) making it mandatory for all shops and outlets, including offices, industrial units, clinics and others, to remain closed for 90 minutes for Friday prayers. It also mandates the shops and outlets to seek licence from the ministry. The law was to be published in the official gazette to be made effective, QNA had reported in April. It specifies fines for failure to comply with its provisions. The 90-minute closure is to be effective from the time of the first call for Friday prayers.
A separate decision issued by the Minister, also approved by the Cabinet yesterday, was about permitting small home-based businesses.
Another draft decision of the Minister approved was about requirements for licensing commercial and industrial units and other businesses must meet.
Another decision approved was about conditions for licensing of vendors and vending and activities to be allowed for vending.
The Minister issued draft decisions (all of which were approved by the Cabinet) in preparation to implement Law No. 5 of 2015.
Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the Cabinet’s weekly meeting at Emiri Diwan.
The Cabinet took measures to issue a draft law regulating registration of births and deaths, after reviewing recommendations by the Advisory Council.
The draft law defines people in charge of reporting births and deaths in and outside Qatar. Births in Qatar must be reported within 15 days. Competent authority must be notified of deaths or stillbirths in the state within seven days. A Standing Committee on Births and Deaths Affairs will be set up in the Interior Ministry to take over the competencies specified in the law. The formation of the panel, mechanisms of work, procedures and rewards to members will be issued in a decision by the Minister of Interior. The Peninsula
