HE Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai said the law regulating the mail services that was recently issued conforms to the global, technological and legislative developments pursuant to international trade agreements and recommendations of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), considering the massive adoption of e-commerce requirements and digital transformation that enhance competitiveness and upgrade the provided services, as well as attract investments.
The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) stated on Saturday that the law No. 15 of 2023 issuing the law regulating mail services would evidently optimize the provided services and undergird the national economy in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 that aims to find a balance between oil-based economy and economy more reliant on knowledge in the endeavor to diversify the Qatari economy and ensure sustainable and stable business climate.
The law has determined the terms of reference of the conce
rned entities in regulating mail services. It outlines MCIT’s role in setting the general policy of post sector, as well as setting essential plans and programs to upgrade the sector in keeping up with the comprehensive development requirements in Qatar with the determination of structure of postal markets and paths to encourage investment in the sector.
Additionally, the law elucidates CRA’s critical role represented in regulating, overseeing, and monitoring the post sector in accordance with the law and the general policy that will be issued by MCIT. Moreover, CRA discharges many pivotal functions, including setting the regulatory strategy to execute the general policy of post sector, setting a policy to protect consumers and monitor the couriers adherence to the law, as well as monitor the mechanism of applying the service between couriers and customers and identify just and appropriate solutions.
The law also promotes the regulations and conditions of granting licenses to mail couriers, issuing licenses
, monitoring couriers compliance with their commitments based on the provisions of the law, protecting rights and interests of the public, receiving their complaints, and issuing final decisions accordingly, as well as setting the regulations to ensure efficient enforcement of the law.
As per law, all mail couriers in the State of Qatar must obtain a license prior to initiating the activity, as the law has set a framework to grant the license in accordance with conditions and regulations that are due to be issued based on a decision by, HE Minister of MCIT.
The law outlined all commitments mail couriers must live up to, including their responsibilities, pointing out that Courier Services include every person who is authorized to provide postal services, whether mail production operators, or local and international express mail companies.
In addition, the law explained the mail services provided by the general mail operators in Qatar, represented in providing inclusive services, in addition to the exclusive
services provided by them and no one else, such as mail services, with the condition that the origin and destination of the mail consignment should be inside Qatar, in addition to producing, issuing and selling postage stamps bearing the word Qatar in any language or any Qatari symbol or logo.
The law outlined the mechanism of regulating mail services sector in Qatar through determining service tariff, encouraging competition, right of access, settlement of disputes among Courier Services, as well as imposing financial penalties on violators. The law largely contributes to promoting the mail sector locally in collaboration with concerned entities and companies in the mail sector.
CRA affirmed that the law meets the requirements of upgrading the previous legislations concerning the mail services, which help keep up with the economic, development and investment renaissance witnessed by Qatar in all sectors. The law also boosts transparency and competitiveness in this critical sector and subsequently optimizes
the quality of mail services afforded to citizens, companies, and institutions in all regions nationwide
Source: Qatar News Agency