
Shura Council to discuss series of draft laws, agreements during 10th & 11th sessions
Muscat: The Shura Council will hold its 10th and 11th regular sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, 20-21 May, during which it will discuss a package of draft laws referred by the government to the Council, along with several economic and social agreement proposals and follow-up instruments submitted by the members of the Council.
This was announced Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council, who stated that the Council, as part of its efforts to strengthen the legislative framework across various sectors in the Sultanate of Oman in line with 'Oman Vision 2040" and to meet citizens' aspirations for comprehensive and sustainable development, has been reviewing a number of draft laws referred by the government during the current regular session.
He clarified that the agenda for the 10th and 11th sessions will include discussions on amendments to certain provisions of the Arbitration Law in Civil and Commercial Disputes, the Real Estate Registry Law, as well as the review and approval of the Civil Society Institutions Law referred by the government.
Sheikh Ahmed added that the Council will also discuss the viewpoint of the Public Services and Utilities Committee regarding the Air Transport Agreement between Oman and the Kyrgyz Republic, in addition to examining the proposed mandatory military service for Omani youth, based on the report of the Youth and Human Resources Committee.
The agenda for both sessions will also cover updates on several draft laws referred to the Council by the Council of Ministers, most notably the National Geospatial Data and Information Law, the Unified Industrial Regulation Law for GCC States and the Sports Organizations Law.
Furthermore, the members of the Council will be briefed on the Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The State Council and Shura Council are scheduled to hold their second joint session next Sunday, 25 May 25, during which they will discuss disputed and divergent articles between the two councils regarding several draft laws, including the Anti-Human Trafficking Law, the State Revenue Collection Law, the Real Estate Regulation Law, the Telecommunications and Information Technology Law and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law.
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