Riyadh- The Shura Council has approved a proposal to extend passport validity to 10 years from the current five-year period for citizens aged above 20 years.

The council also approved the amendment on passport fees to be fixed at SR60 for the issuance or renewal on an annual basis and SR50 for the transit ticket. The decision was made following a discussion on a report presented by the Committee of Security Affairs.

Dr. Nawaf Alfaghm, member of Committee of Security Affairs in Shura Council, commented on the extension of the period of passport validity, by telling Asharq Al-Awsat that this decision will positively affect businessmen, students, and employees working outside the country. These countries issue visas according to the duration of passport validity, so with extending this period from five to ten years, Saudis can benefit from longer visa validity, he added.

On a different level, the Shura called for linking urban planning and infrastructure projects and building of detailed geographical database for infrastructure projects in cities.

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 called them to coordinate with the bodies concerned and come up with regulations related to general and road traffic safety within cities.

Moreover, the Shura Council also asked the ministry to name new streets after senior state officials such as ministers or members of the Board of Senior Scholars, members of the Shura Council, eminent scholars, renowned scientists, men of letters, writers and veteran media figures who have made immense contributions to the nation.

Nevertheless, the council approved, at the beginning of the 15th session, a draft air-services agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Burkina Faso after listening to the report of the Communications and Information Technology Commission on the draft memo.