Premier orders more support for low-income families

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has ordered to continue doubling the social allowance payable to persons entitled to social insurance, and to double the handicap allowance on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.
The move is in line with HRH Premier's keenness on alleviating the living burden on low-income Bahraini families, within the framework of the government's desire to ensure social protection and decent life for the citizens.
HRH Premier made the statements while chairing the regular weekly Cabinet session, at the Gudaibiya Palace today.
HRH Premier lauded the growing crucial role played by the national Press, and commended the efforts exerted by journalists, editors and columnists to enlighten the public on national issues. He extended congratulations to the laureates of the "Khalifa bin Salman Press Award" which he distributed during a ceremony held under his patronage on Bahrain Press Day, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary-General, Dr. Yasser bin Isa Al-Nasser said.
In this context, HRH Premier gave directives to all ministries and government departments to activate the role of public relations directorates to ensure more effective and fruitful cooperation with the Press and facilitate procedures for journalists. He also instructed them to keep doors always open for them to consolidate such cooperation.
Tackling sports issues, HRH the Prime Minister lauded the kingdom's success in hosting and organising a number of international, Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) sporting events, including the 67th FIFA Congress, as well as the First Arab Championship and First GCC Cup of Indoor Skydiving, praising the positive impact of the success of the two major events in reinforcing the kingdom's reputation and ability to host mega regional and global sporting gatherings.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of specialised conferences and exhibitions that strengthen cooperation among countries of the GCC, citing the Ninth Gulf Electronics and Water Engineers Conference and Exhibition (IEEE-GCC Conference), held recently under his patronage.
The session condemned the failed attempts made by terrorists to terrorise secure people and impede the remarkable development efforts made by the Saudi government, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
In this regard, the Cabinet strongly denounced the shooting in the Masura district in the Qatif Province, reiterating Bahrain's full-fledged support to Saudi Arabia on the measures it deems necessary to safeguard its security and stability and to combat all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism.
The session re-asserted Bahrain's firm stance in rejecting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as well as its call for concerted Arab, Islamic and international efforts to combat it.
The Cabinet was informed about the repercussions of the cyberattack that targeted thousands of institutions around the world and took note, through a report presented by the Minister of the Interior, on the measures taken to raise awareness of institutions and individuals on the need to use the necessary protection systems. 
HRH the Prime Minister gave instructions to submit a report on the necessary precautions and measures to be taken in order to strengthen cyber-security.
On development, the Prime Minister directed to include the housing needs of Bilad Al-Qadeem and Al-Zinj villagers in the Northern City project, and the housing applications of Salmabad citizens in the Al-Ramli Housing Project. He requested the Ministry of Housing to take the necessary procedures to implement his directives, in accordance with the criteria in force.
The session approved, following royal directives, the establishment of two diplomatic missions in Sudan and Malaysia, and requested the Foreign Ministry to take the necessary administrative procedures, as highlighted in a memorandum submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The Cabinet, out of its keenness to enhance coordination and integration with the GCC countries in the field of veterinary and therapeutic health care, endorsed Bahrain's provision of veterinary medicines and vaccines through the unified collective purchase mechanism, adopted by the GCC Agricultural Cooperation Committee, in light of the memorandum submitted by the Minister of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning.
The session also discussed a memorandum of understanding in the religious field between Bahrain, represented by the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, and Kyrgyzstan, represented by the State Agency for Religious Affairs (SARA), and referred it to the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.
The Cabinet endorsed the Kingdom's hosting of a regional workshop to be organised by the Secretariat-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) in September to highlight the role of women in society, as outlined in in the memorandum submitted by the Minister of Education.
The session requested the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs to take the necessary procedure ahead of the ratification of a protocol between Bahrain and the Philippines on amending the air services agreement signed between them on August 29, 1992, and amended as per a protocol signed between them on December 15, 2003.
The session also referred to the Legislature a draft law on government subsidies, proposed by the Council of Representatives.
A proposal by the Council of Representatives on exerting all efforts to protect Bahraini employees and workers from sacking and arbitrary dismissal was also approved as it is achieved in reality in the public and private sectors through the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Development.
The session discussed two proposals submitted by the Council of Representatives and approved the government's replies that had been prepared by the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs.
They were related to the appointment of executive directors at public institutions and government-funded companies and the signing of judicial cooperation agreements with countries with a large number of nationals residing in Bahrain.

Source: BNA