Information Minister: General budget to be ready soon

Manama, Apr. 27 (BNA)-- Information Affairs Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al Hammadi has revealed that the general budget will be ready within days and will be placed before the Cabinet next Monday to refer it to the Representatives Council. Speaking at the post-Cabinet press conference today, the minister also stressed that the ministerial council did not discuss or take any decision regarding what had been published by a local newspaper on the probability of raising the price of petrol and its by-products. He also emphasised continuous communication between the legislative and executive branches and citizens. He noted that the visit of some ministers and officials to the Northern Governorate to assess citizens' needs was in line with the directives of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister. He underlined the government's commitment to its work programme which aims to cater for the needs of all regions, pointing out the role played by the municipal councils and the parliament in highlighting issues. The Information Minister asserted that the UN-Habitat Award of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa reflects HRH the Prime Minister's keenness to boost urban development at the local and international level. Concerning any possible relief aid from Bahrain to Nepal in the aftermath of the earthquake which hit the country, the minister stressed Bahrain's constant keenness to stretch out a helping hand to other countries in hard times. He added that officials and relevant parties would certainly take the necessary measures after directives had been issued in this respect.