RIYADH – The Shoura Council gave the go-ahead on Sunday for the preparation of a study about illegal residents in the Kingdom and work out solutions to address the problem. The Council also approved a draft law for Saudi Building Code, said Fahad Bin Muatad Al-Hamad, assistant chairman of the Council. The session was presided over by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Al Asheikh, chairman of the Council, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Al-Hamad said the Council instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the concerned government agencies, to carry out studies about the issue of illegal residents in the Kingdom and suggest immediate solutions to address this problem. The session also approved a proposal to broaden the ministry's area of work in the general diplomatic field by which the ministry will brief people on the Kingdom's position toward major issues and political developments. Also, the Council endorsed enhancing the ministry's coordination with the concerned agencies with regard to political and cultural challenges facing the Kingdom as a result of the political developments in the region and the world as a whole. It also approved increased role of the Ministry to confront the political and cultural initiatives taken by some regional forces that are opposing the Kingdom's policies and guidelines. The Council emphasized the role of the ministry in closely monitoring political developments in those countries hit by political crises, and support its diplomatic missions abroad in tackling natural calamities and handling security issues. Al-Hamad said the Council approved a draft law to implement the Saudi Building Code, and this was after listening to a report presented by the Shoura committee for housing, water and public utility services. The draft law consists of 15 articles that call for upgrading the rules and specifications and executive bylaws concerned with building construction after every five years in order to protect public health and safety. The Code is a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as buildings and non-building structures. According to one of the articles, the Code would be applicable to all types of building constructions taking place in the public and private sectors, including design work and its implementation, operation, maintenance, and alterations, in addition to renovation or expansion or alterations in the existing buildings. The Council also approved punitive measures to be taken against violators of the article 5 of the law to own and invest in real estates by non-Saudis, Al-Hamad added. — SG/SPA
