Latest news with #ShouraCouncil

Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Shoura council urges culture ministry to expand music and cinema programs, calls for arts school independence
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Shoura Council on Monday called on the Ministry of Culture to broaden its academic programs in music, cinema, theater, and performing arts, while also working toward full financial and administrative independence for its cultural commissions to ensure their sustainability and effectiveness. During its 39th regular session, the council urged the ministry's Museums Commission to upgrade exhibits at the National Museum to reflect recent archaeological discoveries, and called for an annual publishing plan for Saudi literary works. It also encouraged coordination with the Ministry of Education to revive school theater programs and stimulate domestic theatrical activity. The council issued several other recommendations across government sectors. It asked the National Center for Mental Health Promotion to establish a unified national framework to accredit public and private mental health providers and monitor psychological consultation apps, and to support school health awareness efforts in partnership with the Ministry of Health. Regarding the National Institute for Educational Professional Development, the council proposed recognizing teacher preparation programs in employment standards and called for the formation of professional learning communities in also pressed the General Authority for Competition to implement preemptive deterrents against anti-competitive practices and urged faster integration with the government's 'Etimad' it called on the General Authority for Statistics to enhance the release of economic and development data and coordinate to boost Saudi talent placement in global council advocated for attracting and localizing Saudi capital abroad to align with domestic investment opportunities, and advised resolving overlapping jurisdictions to improve the investment climate ahead of Expo sports, the council asked the Sports Boulevard Foundation to comply with Cabinet reporting guidelines and improve services at its also reviewed the Ministry of Health's annual report, recommending equal healthcare access, better availability of essential medicines, and direct user feedback through the 'Sehhaty' emphasized improving capabilities at specialty hospitals in remote areas and incentivizing skilled also proposed new regulatory frameworks for healthcare practitioners creating media content and stricter oversight of health content on social suggestions included enabling remote consultations with central hospitals, and developing medical wellness resorts to utilize Saudi Arabia's natural assets for sustainable economic and healthcare education and investment, the council called on the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to evolve regional incentive frameworks and align with local sectoral also urged the Ministry of Sports to fast-track club privatization, expand school and university sports, and foster talent pipelines tied to professional stressed the need for greater private investment in sports, enhanced sports medicine, and a professional media ecosystem to support Saudi Arabia's global sporting called for a youth-focused strategy for community and competitive sports, and for nurturing talent across all age categories to elevate Saudi athletes on the global stage.


Arab News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi Shoura Council delegation meets with speaker of Hungarian Parliament
BUDAPEST: A delegation from the Saudi Shoura Council, comprising members of the Saudi-Hungarian Parliamentary Friendship Committee and led by council member and head of the committee Ibrahim Al-Qannas, met with Laszlo Kover, speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, in Budapest recently as part of the Shoura Council delegation's official visit to Hungary. Kover welcomed the delegation, noting the importance of such meetings and exchange of visits to enhance parliamentary cooperation. He praised the Kingdom's achievements under Vision 2030. The meeting included discussions of bilateral relations and ways to enhance them, as well as exploring the prospects of parliamentary cooperation between the Shoura Council and the Hungarian Parliament. It also addressed several topics of common interest.


Arab News
24-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia seek to deepen parliamentary cooperation during ongoing visit of Shoura Council
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's National Assembly on Tuesday formally welcomed a high-level delegation of Saudi Arabia's Shoura Council as the two countries seek to deepen parliamentary cooperation. The visit is one among many recent efforts to strengthen political, defense and economic links between the longtime allies, who already share robust trade and security partnerships and close cultural ties. Saudi Arabia hosts over two million Pakistani expatriates and has long been a key source of financial support for Islamabad, including during recent economic crises and through workers' remittances. 'During the National Assembly Budget Session 2025, Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, along with Members of the National Assembly, extended a warm welcome to the high-level parliamentary delegation of the Pak-Saudi Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Saudi Shoura Council present in the Speaker's Gallery,' the National Assembly said in a statement posted on social media platform X. The Saudi delegation, led by Major General (Retd.) Dr. Abdulrahman bin Sanhat Al-Harbi, chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Committee, includes Dr. Iman bint Abdulaziz Al-Jabreen and Engineer Salem bin Ali Al-Shahrani, both members of the Shoura Council. The delegation held separate meetings with Speaker Sadiq and other Pakistani parliamentarians earlier, during which both sides agreed to promote parliamentary exchanges and share legislative experience. 'The Pak-Saudi Friendship Group established in the National Assembly is playing an important role in promoting harmony between the parliaments of the two countries,' Speaker Sadiq said in an earlier statement. 'Exchanges of parliamentary delegations will give the parliamentarians of both countries an opportunity to benefit from each other's experiences.' Dr. Al-Harbi said Saudi Arabia attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan and reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to working together for peace and development in the region. Frequent visits by parliamentary delegations complement high-level diplomatic and ministerial interactions between the two nations and are seen as a way to pave the ground for greater people-to-people contacts and new Saudi investments in Pakistan's energy, mining and infrastructure sectors. The visit also comes amid Islamabad's efforts to attract foreign investment and strengthen partnerships with Gulf countries to stabilize its struggling economy.


Arab News
23-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
High-level Saudi delegation in Pakistan to strengthen parliamentary ties
ISLAMABAD: A high-level parliamentary delegation of the Saudi Shoura Council arrived in Pakistan to strengthen parliamentary ties between the two countries, the National Assembly of Pakistan said on Sunday. The delegation, led by the Head of the Saudi-Pak Parliamentary Friendship Committee Dr. Abdulrahman bin Sanhat bin Abdullah Al-Harbi, is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. It comprises members of the Saudi Shoura Council and the Saudi-Pak Parliamentary Friendship Committee, Dr. Iman bint Abdulaziz Al-Jabreen and Engineer Salem bin Ali Al-Shahrani. The delegates held a meeting with NA Speaker Sadiq in Islamabad, during which both sides agreed to promote parliamentary exchanges, according to a statement on the National Assembly of Pakistan's Facebook page. 'The Pak-Saudi Friendship Group established in the National Assembly is playing an important role in promoting harmony between the parliaments of the two countries,' NA Speaker Sadiq was quoted as saying. 'Exchanges of parliamentary delegations will give the parliamentarians of both countries an opportunity to benefit from each other's experiences.' Dr. Abdulrahman said Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan, according to the Pakistani National Assembly statement. 'During the meeting, discussions were held on the unity of the Muslim world, and joint role for peace and development in the region,' it read. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and brotherly relations. The Kingdom is home to over 2 million Pakistani expatriates, serving as the top destination for remittances for the cash-strapped South Asian country. Saudi Arabia has also extended significant support to Pakistan during prolonged economic challenges faced by Islamabad in recent years, including external financing and assistance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programs.


Arab News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi Shoura Council speaker participates in Rome conference
ROME: The Second Parliamentary Conference on Interreligious Dialogue — titled 'Strengthening Trust and Embracing Hope for our Common Future' — has started in Rome, with the participation of the Saudi delegation headed by Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh. The event is being attended by heads of parliaments from around the world. Lorenzo Fontana, the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, praised the body's significant and vital role, stressing the importance of the conference in building bridges and promoting mutual understanding.