Doha: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the Cabinet’s regular meeting at Emiri Diwan yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud said the session took steps to issue a draft law on civil defence, after considering a recommendation by the Advisory Council.
According to the draft law, a Supreme Council for Civil Defence will be set up. It will draw up a general policy, declare a state of emergency in case of a disaster or the presence of conditions that makes its occurrence possible and announce its end.
The General Directorate of Civil Defence at the Ministry of Interior will implement civil defence measures and approve design schemes for state facilities to endorse their fire prevention systems.
Commercial, industrial and similar stores will not be granted a licence until they have obtained a certificate from authorities that they have a valid fire prevention system. Owners must carry out regular maintenance of fire prevention systems and adhere to security and safety measures stipulated in the list attached to the law.
Civil defence will be taught in schools, religious institutions and training centres, according to rules established by authorities in co-ordination with educational authorities.
The Cabinet also took measures to issue a draft law to issue a unified regulation on substances that deplete the GCC ozone layer after a briefing on a recommendation by the Advisory Council.
The Ministry of Environment will identify import quotas stipulated in the annex. The person concerned can appeal to the Minister over the decision determining his share and a decision by the Minister will specify fees for services performed by the ministry. The system aims to phase out ozone-depleting substances and establish safe alternatives in line with the interests of GCC states in accordance with the Montreal Protocol, and rules for imports and re-exports, transport, storage and handling, processing and use of controlled substances to develop and implement GCC plans for rehabilitation of the sectors that depend on controlled substances, and assist them in the commitment to sound practices in repair and maintenance operations and transition to alternatives.
The Cabinet approved a draft decree inviting the municipal council to convene.
It also endorsed a Cabinet draft decision amending some provisions of Resolution No. 34 of 2011 on reorganisation of national committee for coordination on World Trade Organisation (WTO) affairs.
The amendment adds a representative of General Authority of Customs to the committee, which will follow up on implementation of an agreement on trade facilitation at WTO.
The session then approved a draft decision of the Minister of Finance to establish sections in administrative units comprising General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority and set its terms of reference. QNA
