Doha, October 26 (QNA) - HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting held at its seat at the Amiri Diwan on Wednesday afternoon.

Following the meeting, HE Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Sulaiti issued the following statement: At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet commended the speech delivered by HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Tuesday, at the opening of the second ordinary session of the first legislative term, corresponding to the 51st annual session of the Shura Council.

The Cabinet valued the important contents included in HH the Amir's speech on both national and regional sides, His Highness's directives which outlined the features of the next stage in the country, and the required plans and programs within the framework of the third national development strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Cabinet stressed that what was outlined in HH the Amir's speech regarding Qatar's economy, continued growth rate, and with international agencies fixing its classification for the strong Qatar economy and its stable prospects, reflects the integrity of Qatar's strategic economies, the accuracy of implementing economic plans, and the sound scientific planning that characterizes the economic performance and the development projects, especially in the energy development field and diversifying the investments for future generations, in light of what His Highness referred to as a legislative renaissance, the development of justice systems, and the interest in building a capable person considering it as the main mission.

The Cabinet also valued what came in HH Amir's speech regarding Qatar's host of the FIFA World Cup, in which the State of Qatar shall affirm its credibility, positive influence, civilizational and cultural openness, civilizational identity, and the hospitality of its people.

After reviewing HH the Amir's speech and its multiple aspects, HE Prime Minister directed Their Excellencies the Ministers to put into practice, the directives of HH the Amir, which were included in the speech, by preparing the necessary plans and programs and taking the necessary measures that ensure the precise implementation of HH Amir's directives, and to coordinate between all the ministries and state agencies within the framework of the third national development strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.

The Cabinet then reviewed the report made by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) regarding the latest developments related to COVID-19 and the Cabinet took the following decisions:

1- Amending the Cabinet's decision issued in its regular meeting (19) for 2022 convened on 18/5/2022 regarding the oblige of all citizens, residents, and visitors to activate the EHTERAZ application on smartphones when leaving the house for any reason and checking of the green symbol in the EHTERAZ application when entering public or closed places to be, oblige of activating EHTERAZ application and checking of the green symbol when entering health facilities only.

2- Continue to work adhere to Cabinet's decision issued in its regular meeting (36) for 2022 convened on 19/10/2022 regarding obliging citizens, residents, and visitors to wear facemasks while visiting health facilities only. All employees and workers whose jobs require being in closed offices and communicating with clients must wear face masks during their work hours.

3- This decision will enter into force as of Tuesday 1/11/2022 until further notice.

After that, the Cabinet considered the topics on its agenda as follows: First: Approval of the draft state budget for the fiscal year 2023, a draft law approving the budget, and the referral of all the main sections and sectors of the budget draft and the draft law to the Shura Council.

Second: Approval of the draft decision of the Minister of Commerce and Industry to cancel decision No. (46) of 2021 regarding setting the maximum rates for leasing hotel rooms and its kind during the period of hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament.

Third: Approval of a draft decision of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to issue a guide to standards of radiological practice in nuclear medicine.

The preparation of the draft decision comes within the framework of implementing the provisions of Decree-Law No (31) of 2002 on Radiation Protection.

Fourth: Approval of the proposal made by Qatar Tourism to participate in a number of foreign exhibitions during 2023.

Fifth: Approval of the proposal made by Qatar Tourism to participate in the Arabian Tourism Association "ATA".

Sixth: Approval of allowing the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) to conduct bilateral talks in the field of air transport with a number of countries.

Seventh: Approval of:

1- A draft agreement between the government of the State of Qatar and the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on mutual administrative assistance in the customs field.

2- A draft agreement for cooperation in the legal field between the Ministry of Justice in the State of Qatar and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs in the People's Republic of Bangladesh.

Eighth: The Cabinet followed up the arrangements and preparations for hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and took the appropriate decision in their regard.

(QNA)