MUSCAT: The second ordinary annual session of the seventh term of the State Council witnessed increased activities in line with the Royal attention paid by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, to reinforce the pillars of Shura (consultation) and activate the council’s role.
This was stated by Khalid bin Ahmed al Saadi, Secretary-General of the State Council. He added that the ordinary annual session of the seventh term of the State Council acquired a special importance as it coincided with the issuance of the Basic Law of the State by Royal Decree 6/2021 and the Council of Oman Law by Royal Decree 7/2021.
The secretary-general of the State Council said that the two Royal Decrees constitute a quantum leap in the course of national action and highlight the Royal keenness to consolidate the pillars of the state of institutions and law. They also enhance the Shura practice in line with the aspirations of the wise leadership that meets the aspirations of the Omani people. He added that the issuance of the two Royal Decrees comes within the framework of the renewed Renaissance led by His Majesty the Sultan who pays great attention to the permanence of the Renaissance in a way that enhances the progress and prosperity of the Sultanate and achieves more prosperity for the Omani people.
Al Saadi noted that the State Council discussed a number of topics during the second ordinary annual session of the seventh term including draft laws referred to the Council by the government. The Council also debated a set of proposals and studies and discussed the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and the state general budget for fiscal year 2021.
The secretary-general of the State Council explained that the most prominent works and activities undertaken by the State Council were the discussion of six draft laws referred by the government, namely: amendments of the Insurance Companies law, amendments of some provisions of the Takaful Insurance Law, amendment of some provisions of the Civil Status Law, draft unified GCC Anti-Commercial Fraud Law, amendments of some provisions of the Foreigners Residence Law, and amending some provisions of the Motor Vehicle Insurance Law.
The secretary-general of the State Council pointed out that despite the current crisis facing the Sultanate and the world at large due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the State Council held three general sessions amid precautionary and preventive measures to help limit the spread of the virus and preserve the lives of its affiliates in implementation to the Royal directives to defer the general sessions and to hold meetings of the enhanced specialised committees. The enhanced specialised committees held seven meetings during which it discussed a number of topics.
The State Council made an active presence in regional and international forums held through video conferencing including the meetings of the GCC legislative councils, the Arab Parliament, the Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States (PUIC), the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the United Nations World Youth Forum and the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP), the secretary-general of the State Council added. — ONA
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