Call to cut spending

The Cabinet, chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday, gave directives to ministries and government departments to submit the results of their short and medium-term programmes to reduce their expenditure.

This came as the session was informed about the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism’s short and medium-term programme to reduce its spending, in line with the Cabinet’s resolutions. A memorandum presented by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism revealed that the ministry had succeeded in reducing its expenses by 68 percent over the past three years. Among other things, the Cabinet approved the acquisition of land for public benefit in Tubli, Bilad Al Qadeem, Salmaniya, Tashan, Galali and Muharraq, to preserve roads and the surrounding streets, and set up car parking lots.

The session requested the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning to issue the necessary acquisition edicts. HRH the Premier gave directives to expedite the acquisition of more car parks in Bilad Al Qadeem and Muharraq, and to finalise the administrative and technical procedures to build a multi-storey car park in the Muharraq Souk as soon as possible. The cabinet endorsed the launch of a national plan to foster belonging to the nation.