Mosques, matams can open shops in non-trading zones

Mosques and matams (community centres) can set up shops on their premises in non-commercial zones. As an exception, the Manama Municipal Council yesterday set special rules so that the religious establishments can open shops to ensure a steady income to fund their programmes, council secretary Jassim Redha said. “Previous rules allow each mosque to open only one shop. We have now extended the rules to matams and other religious organisations. We also want to relax the rules so that they can open more than one shop. But we will amend regulations based on each case.” “The council approved two shops for the Karbabad matam. The new rules to open shops at religious centres and mosques are an exception in the sense that the shops won’t be on the commercial roads.” The head of the technical committee, Sadiq Rahman, said the council would facilitate the opening of two shops at every matam in the Capital and elsewhere in the Kingdom. “Our meeting yesterday also called for the withdrawal of the decision to exchange plots of land between the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Education. “In 2002 the Ministry of Housing exchanged some plots behind the Bapco Garden near the Pearl roundabout with a plot in Riffa. The plot belonged to the Manama Municipality and the exchange cause huge losses to the municipality. “The Riffa plot is only 1,200 square metres and cost BD10, 000, but the two plots near the garden are huge and cost more than BD1 million. Naila Barakat Staff Reporter