The Council of Ministers has prioritized housing, jobs and an increased standard of living for citizens in its 10th Five-Year Development Plan from 2015 to 2020.
The 24-point plan approved at its meeting on Monday, includes efforts to preserve Islamic values and teachings, promote national unity and consolidate the Kingdom’s identity, said Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja after the Cabinet meeting.
The plan aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s economy and promote its growth, stability and competitiveness. “It also aims to enhance institutional reforms, support civil institutions and raise the efficiency and productivity of state agencies and their employees,” Khoja said.
The new five-year plan will uphold the principles of accountability and transparency and strive for the protection of integrity and fight corruption, the minister added.
The Cabinet, which was chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, also adopted several measures to crack down on errant Umrah operators.
The Cabinet approved amendments to laws regulating Umrah trips from outside the Kingdom. The Interior Ministry would use Article 60 of the country's residency law to punish Umrah companies involved in trading visas, and bringing people to the country for other purposes.
“The Ministries of Interior and Haj shall prevent Umrah companies from accessing their automated system if they fail to ensure the return of their pilgrims from the Kingdom to their respective countries,” Khoja said while explaining the new regulations.
The Cabinet authorized the minister of housing to discuss with his Egyptian counterpart a housing cooperation agreement. It banned non-Saudis from time-sharing activities or marketing the scheme in Makkah and Madinah. “Non-Saudis are also banned from the acquisition of any rights under time-sharing for tourist real estate units in Makkah and Madinah except through inheritance,” Khoja said.
The Cabinet congratulated Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for being awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University. The Cabinet was briefed on the telephone conversation between King Abdullah and US President Barack Obama.
Referring to last week›s Jeddah meeting to fight Islamic State militants, the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to stand against the threats posed by terrorism in all its forms.
| Dawn Travels Umrah Packages In December 2014 from USA Umrah Packages 2015 Courtesy: http://www.arabnews.com/ |
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