Dammam, Qatif to have metros

The Council of Ministers on Monday decided to establish an integrated public transport system in Dammam and Qatif, including metros and buses within the next seven years. It also set up a high-level committee under the Eastern Province governor to implement the project in phases.

The Cabinet, which was chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, authorized the region’s governorate to establish a private company to supervise implementation of the project.

Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif and Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry have thanked the Cabinet for approving the project saying it would improve public transport services in the region.

Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet also decided to establish diplomatic relations with Swaziland at the level of a non-resident ambassador and authorized the foreign minister to sign the protocols. It assigned the interior minister to sign an agreement with the United Kingdom and North Ireland.

Khoja said the crown prince briefed the Cabinet on his talks with King Juan Carlos of Spain, while highlighting the deep-rooted relations between the two countries. It also reviewed the results of the GCC defense ministers’ meeting and said it would contribute to regional security and world peace.

Referring to the Kingdom’s speech at the 5th ministerial meeting for clean energy in Seoul and the 14th international energy forum held in Russia, the Cabinet stressed the steps taken by the Kingdom to develop clean energy technologies. It urged all countries to cooperate with the international energy forum.

The Cabinet also welcomed the outcome of the Executive Council and the 45th ordinary session of the Arab Information Ministers Council.

It lauded the communiqué issued by Syria Friends Group meeting in London, and its decision to hold Bashar Assad’s regime responsible for the terrorism it is inflicting against its people and exporting it to neighboring countries.

Spelling out other Cabinet decisions, Khoja said it approved the Commercial Labels System for the GCC countries which was endorsed by the GCC Supreme Council in its 33rd meeting in Bahrain.

The Cabinet appointed Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Daleel undersecretary for planning and development at the Ministry of Interior; Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Khidr legal consultant at the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice; Fahd bin Sibeyel Al-Harbi mayor of Al-Kharj under the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs; and Nasser bin Abdullah Al-Zaiban director general of Senior Assignees Officers at the Zakat and Income Department.