JEDDAH – King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has urged officials and government agencies involved in Umrah services to exert all efforts to help pilgrims perform their rituals in ease and comfort. The King also urged all Muslims to glorify the holy month of Ramadan and be guided by the Prophet's Sunnah. Benevolent deeds should be doubled and Allah's forgiveness sought in this holy month, the King said while chairing the weekly session of the Council of Ministers here, Monday. The Cabinet highlighted the arrangements and preparations made by various government agencies in Makkah and Madinah on the advent of Ramadan. Millions of worshipers from around the world are expected to visit Makkah to perform Umrah. Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, has approved the security plan for Ramadan, which will see 28,000 security officers mobilized throughout the month. Those officers will be in charge of vehicle traffic and will manage crowds of Umrah performers and visitors inside the Grand Mosque. Maj. Gen. Nasser Al-Arfaj, deputy director of Public Security, said, “We have plans to manage crowds and respond to any emergency on the 27th night of Ramadan when over three million people will perform Umrah and pray in Makkah.” The King also briefed the Cabinet on the contacts and talks he had with a number of leaders and envoys of friendly countries focusing on aspects of cooperation and developments taking place regionally and internationally. In a statement to SPA following the Cabinet session, Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, said the Cabinet condemned the massacres taking place in Syria, describing them as savage, terrorist acts which makes it imperative for the international community to take firm measures for the protection of the Syrian people. The Cabinet also reviewed a number of domestic issues. It approved two memorandums of understanding on strategic dialogue between GCC states and Pakistan and Australia signed in Abu Dhabi on March 8, 2011. The Council of Ministers approved a recommendation by the Permanent Committee of the Supreme Economic Council submitted by the Minister of Transportation and Chairman of the Saudi Railway Organization (SRO), allowing the SRO to exercise the tasks and responsibilities of the Railways Commission. It also empowered the SRO's Board of Directors to exercise the powers bestowed on the Commission until the latter assumes its responsibilities. It authorized the SRO to continue implementing the organization's current regulations until new rules are endorsed. It also approved the regulations defining research and studies in the Ministry of Health. – SG/SPA
