الشورى يطالب هيئة النقل بـ«مترو» المدن وزيادة استيعاب القطارات وسرعتها

The Shura Council issued a decision calling on the General Transport Authority to work on increasing the number of training programs offered by the Saudi Logistics Academy and diversifying them to meet the needs of the sector.

The Council, in its 31st regular session of the first year of the ninth term, chaired by the Deputy Chairman of the Council, Dr. Mishal bin Fahm Al-Sulami, urged the Authority to coordinate with relevant entities to review and develop the standards for evaluating the quality of transport services for pilgrims, and to coordinate with the concerned parties to study the establishment of metro projects in major cities and urban areas. It also called for increasing the capacity of passenger trains and raising their speed to match the current speed of the Haramain train.

The Council called on the King Abdulaziz Foundation to make the research portal system available to its beneficiaries through its website and to increase awareness of its services to all beneficiaries in the field of document and manuscript sterilization and restoration, as well as bookbinding.

The Council discussed the annual report of the Saudi Arabian Airlines, and the committee requested more time to study the opinions and recommendations raised by the members and to return with its perspective in a later session. It also discussed the annual report of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, where Council member Dr. Taqwa Omar called for expanding the base of major telecommunications companies through incentive and legislative policies that enable attracting new investments and supporting the growth of startups to become major national telecommunications companies. The committee requested more time to return with its perspective in a later session, and the annual report of the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority was discussed. Council member Dr. Hassan Al-Masloum urged the Authority to develop mechanisms for weighing local content in the pharmaceutical industries, calling for a study on the requirement to apply the minimum in the technology and training element, and the raw materials element of local content. Council member Engineer Mahdi Al-Dosari called for studying the regulation of the mandatory list to encourage compliance with the supply of materials and equipment from local factories, requiring entities to meet 50% of requests within the year. The committee requested more time to return with its perspective in a later session. During this session, the Council discussed the annual report of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, where Council member Dr. Mona Al-Fadhli urged the Authority to evaluate the economic operator program and the significant benefits granted, ensuring its performance aligns with the necessary standards and setting performance targets that match its capabilities. The Council also discussed the annual report of the National Center for Wildlife Development, where Council member Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rajhi urged the center to coordinate with relevant entities to establish programs for monitoring zoonotic diseases and raising awareness of their risks, as well as providing preventive requirements. Council member Dr. Abdullah Al-Zahrani called on the National Center for Wildlife Development to enhance its partnerships with entities concerned with heritage, culture, environment, and tourism, and to adopt best international practices in protection and management to present the Kingdom as a leading global model in preserving its environmental and cultural resources. The Council discussed the annual report of the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, where members expressed several observations and opinions, and the committee requested time to return with its perspective in a later session.

Al-Areeshi to the Ministry of Communications: The entry of networks into border areas has a negative impact

Council member Dr. Aisha bint Ali Al-Areeshi called on the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to develop mechanisms that ensure efficiency and effectiveness in implementing its programs with strategic impact. She suggested that the committee recommend the ministry to implement projects and incentive packages aimed at improving and enhancing the quality of broadband in border areas, ensuring quick connectivity to the communication network and providing high-speed internet in those areas, while preventing other networks outside the geographical scope of the Kingdom from appearing, which may negatively affect data privacy and ensure information security. Collaboration with the Communications and Information Technology Authority can be pursued in this regard.