Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi Chairs the 9th Regular Session of the Council of Ministers ••••• Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired, today, Saturday, the 9th regular session of the Council of Ministers, during which developments in the country were discussed, the items on the agenda were reviewed, and the necessary directives and decisions were issued. At the outset of the session, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi directed the Ministry of Interior and the National Investment Commission to coordinate and cooperate with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to complete the procedures for issuing work permits, in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, upon granting entry visas to foreign workers. The Council of Ministers also approved the closure of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs’ Labor Office, affiliated with the Department of Labor and Vocational Training and located at the headquarters of the National Investment Commission, which had been responsible for completing work permit procedures in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, as it is no longer required following the automation of electronic entry visa procedures. As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption, the Council of Ministers approved the recommendations resulting from the evaluation of the performance of ministries, entities not affiliated with a ministry, and governorates, as follows: Complete the work of investigative committees within 60 days. Strengthen follow-up with the competent courts to expedite the resolution of cases that have remained pending for extended periods. Follow up on the collection of amounts awarded to ministries and government entities under court judgments. Ensure that all government entities address the observations contained in the reports of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit in a manner that enhances institutional performance, while requiring government institutions to prepare guidance manuals and adopt specific programs and guidelines to improve anti-corruption performance. Require all government institutions to identify manifestations of corruption and enhance the efficiency of their employees through specialized anti-corruption training. To enhance the efficiency of investment planning, rationalize public spending, and prevent increases in the cost of government projects resulting from the addition of new components, the Council decided the following: No new component, activity, phase, expansion, or additional work may be introduced into projects included in the investment plan after their inclusion has been approved by the Ministry of Planning. Beneficiary entities shall implement projects in accordance with the approved scope of work, components, costs, and objectives. Any work not included in the original project study, designs, or approved planning documents shall be treated as a separate project subject to the applicable procedures for inclusion, evaluation, prioritization, and funding under the relevant legislation and regulations. The provisions of this decision shall not apply to requirements arising from public safety considerations, urgent technical requirements, or legal obligations that could not have been anticipated during project preparation. The Ministry of Planning shall review all requests for amendments or additions to ensure they are not used to alter the project’s scope, increase its cost, fragment projects, circumvent investment plan priorities, or merge projects in a manner that undermines sound planning. The Ministry of Planning shall issue the necessary implementing regulations for this decision, and any provision inconsistent with its provisions shall cease to apply. To improve the quality of government project preparation and safeguard public funds, the Council decided to require contracting entities to include an explicit provision in contracts for studies, design, review, and supervision, making the consulting firms responsible for design and review fully liable, both legally and contractually, for any increase in project costs.