Fatimah Al-Debis

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Assistant President of the Shoura Council Dr. Hanan Al-Ahmadi made history on Wednesday by becoming the first Saudi woman to chair a session of the Shoura Council.

She presided over the sixth regular virtual session of the Council held on Wednesday in the absence of President Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sheikh and Vice President Dr. Mishaal Al-Sulami. This is in accordance with Article six of the Shoura Council Bylaw.

Member of the Shoura Council Dr. Faisal Al-Fadel said that the chairing of the Council session by Dr. Hanan was considered a historic event. He expressed happiness over the landmark event in the history of Saudi women, saying that this comes as one of the fruits of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and realization of one of its most important goals, which includes empowering women and investing their capabilities.

Meanwhile, a number of Shoura members, while taking part in deliberations, called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reduce the number of staff working on a contract basis at the Saudi diplomatic missions abroad and convert the vacancies from the seventh rank and above to diplomatic posts. They also urged the ministry to find its own premises for diplomatic missions to replace the rented ones.

The Council approved the draft job discipline law, which aims to ensure the smooth functioning of the public offices and the good performance of employees. It also endorsed the proposal asking the General Organization for Social Insurance to carry out a study about various alternatives to facilitate the retirees having access to health insurance.