Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — The Shoura Council on Monday approved revisions in the fee structure to issue passports of Saudi nationals. The proposed fee is SR60 for the issuance and renewal of passport for a year. This means that the issuance of passport with a validity of 10 years and the renewal for the same period would cost SR600 in place of the existing fee of SR300. The Shoura also recommended imposing a fee of SR50 for issuing the transit tickets Yahya Al-Samaan, assistant chairman of the Council, said that the Council took this decision after listening to the report of the committee for security affairs that was prepared after taking into account of the opinions and viewpoints of the members of the Council in this regard. The report also contains a proposal to extend the renewal period of passports from five years to 10 years for citizens aged above 20 years. The report was read out by Abdullah Al-Saadun, chairman of the committee. According to Council sources, the new proposals for revising fee structure and validity of renewal will soon be presented to the Council of Ministers for its approval. Al-Samaan said the Council asked the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to work out a time-bound plan for developing the undeveloped neighborhoods with the cooperation of the private sector. It also asked the ministry to name new streets after senior state officials such as ministers or members of the Board of Senior Ulema or members of the Shoura Council or eminent scholars, men of letters, writers and veteran media figures who have made immense contributions to the nation. Meanwhile, the Council condemned the terrorist attack at Rida Mosque in Mahasen neighborhood of Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province. The Council offered condolences to the bereaved family members of those martyred in the heinous attack.
