Times of Oman - April 11, 2016

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MONDAY April 11, 2016 3 Rajab 1437 AH

6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the Opening Session of the Majlis Ashura, 1991

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’

MORNING MINUTE

Today is the beginning of a new era in the history of this country, which never ceases to aspire to higher and greater things. Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 42 2

| 40 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certifi Cert rtifi rt ifi fied fi eed d Com C Company om mpany pan pa pan any | Ch C Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: hair aiirrman ai maan m an /Ed //E Ediito Ed itto torr-iin-C n hief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Print Pr P Printed rint in nteed nt nted d&P Published ubl ubl ub blish issh is h hed ed by ed by Muscat Mus Mu Mus uscca cat a Media Group

VISA REQUIREMENTS

HM issues Royal Decree MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Sunday issued a Royal Decree reading as follows: Royal Decree No. 20/2016 on ratifying the agreement between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany about mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of official biometric passports in accordance with international criteria of the Civil Aviation Organisation, signed in Muscat on March 8, 2016. Article (1) ratifies the abovementioned agreement as per the version attached to this decree. Article (2) states that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced on its date of issue. Issued on April 10, 2016. — ONA PRESIDENT OF DJIBOUTI

HM sends greetings

700

Call for higher fares by airport drivers Muscat already tops the Gulf Cooperation Council region in airport taxi fares, with the base fare being OMR6

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti on the occasion of him being re-elected as president of the republic for the fourth five-year presidential term. >A6

MUSCAT: Passengers using airport taxis may face higher fares as drivers are once again demanding a hike in their tariffs. Salim Al Ghammari, a Muscat Municipal Council member, told Times of Oman that following the

demands of the airport taxi drivers, he has suggested to the council to raise the tariff again. He said he was approached after Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) agreed to increase the amount it takes from drivers from OMR48 every two years to 700 baisas per trip, in order to raise income like many oth-

er state-owned organisations this year. “This time it should be slight and reasonable,” said Al Ghammari, adding, however, that this suggestion is yet to be discussed at the Municipal Council. The tariff hike demand comes as OAMC has started charging 700 baisas for every trip from the airport taxi drivers. Abdullah Al Shibli, an airport taxi driver, said that many of the drivers are not happy with the move. “They feel that 700 baisa is too much and it should be decreased,” said Al Shibli. He added that taxi drivers have raised this issue with the Muscat Municipal Council and the Ministry of Transport and Communication. This demand for a higher

BALADIYETI

erik@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Residents and citizens living in Muscat will not have to waste their time anymore in settling permits and violations with the Muscat Municipality as the Municipality on Sunday launched a new app to deal with such tasks. The app called ‘Baladiyeti’ will enable them to access a range of services online, including renewal

There are around 300 airport taxis registered with the OAMC. “While most of them are metered, there are around 30 taxis functioning without the meter system,” the official said, adding that they are in the process of installing meters in all taxis. The OAMC official, however, stressed that there has been no change in fares, which begins from OMR6. “The fares are still the same and the taxis that don’t have metres too still follow the same fares,” the official added. Justifying the high fares, an airport taxi driver, said Oman’s airport taxis provide luxurious service with latest cars of premium brands. “That is one of the reasons we charge more,” he said.

M I N I S T RY O F I N F O R M AT I O N L AW

New app for a range of services launched ERIK PRINS

tariff comes at a time when the Omani capital, Muscat already tops the GCC region in airport taxi fares, where the rates begin from OMR6. That’s more than twice as high as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, where the taxi fares begin from OMR2.5. When contacted, an official from OAMC said the company had given two choices to the taxi drivers: “Either they had to pay 700 baisas per trip or pay OMR250 per year. They have chosen 700 baisas and now it’s not fair to pay less than what they have already agreed for.” The official added that this agreement had been arrived at a long time ago and would be implemented soon.

baisas per trip is the total increased amount that drivers have agreed with Oman Airports Management Company to pay instead of OMR48 every two years that they were so far paying

of rental contracts, renewal of municipal licences (for companies), renewal of construction permits, reservation of parking spaces, payment of parking fines, applications for job vacancies, in addition to other electronic services. Citizens and residents of Muscat would not have to visit any office anymore to settle their contracts or pay fines for violations, the Muscat Municipality official further said. >A6

Tobacco advertising banned in Sultanate HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

USEFUL APP: The app is called ‘Baladiyeti’. – Supplied picture

MUSCAT: Advertising for tobacco products now stands banned in Oman, according to a new law passed by the Ministry of Information. All radio stations, TV channels, newspapers and online publishing houses in Oman are now prohibited from advertising any form of tobacco products.

The circular, issued on April 5, 2016, was released as per the press and publications law issued by the Royal Decree No.49/84 and the Royal Decree No.20/2005 on agreeing to join the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. An official at the Ministry said this decision is a part of the national campaign to curb the negative physical and mental effects of tobacco on smokers. >A6

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

REGION

Aid offered to victims of Kerala fire disaster

Dubai to build a tower Economic growth in taller than Burj Khalifa GCC to stay weak

1

2

A hospital group in Oman has offered Rs50,000 (approx OMR 290) ex-gratia for the next of kin of those killed in the firework disaster, which has so far claimed 110 lives and left 383 injured at a temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala, a top official from the hospital group said. >A3

Dubai’s Emaar Properties plans to build a new tower in the emirate to surpass the Burj Khalifa, Chairman Mohamed Alabbar told reporters on Sunday. The new project comes as Dubai developers continue to announce new schemes despite a softening real estate sector. >A13

BUSINESS

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Economic growth of Gulf Cooperation Council states is forecast at 2.5 per cent in 2016, reflecting mainly the developments in the global oil market and the impact of fiscal corrective measures. In 2017, the growth rate of this group is estimated to recover to 2.6 per cent, according to a report. >B1

Times of Oman quiz takes off

A4


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