Subsidies on essential goods must reach needy families in Bahrain, said His Majesty King Hamad.

He directed authorities to draw up a mechanism to raise the subsidy cap for low-income households.

His Majesty also emphasised the need to root out unemployment by creating new job opportunities.

The King also hailed freedom of opinion guaranteed by Bahrain's constitution.

'The kingdom's comprehensive democratic and development march is heading towards its aspired goals,' His Majesty said as he received at Safriya Palace, Shura Council and parliament chairmen Ali Saleh Al Saleh and Khalifa Al Dhahrani, their deputies and members of the two councils' committees. He praised the role of National Financial and Administrative Audit Court for making best use of the kingdom's financial resources alongside an independent and impartial judiciary.

He was congratulated on the 10th anniversary of the National Action Charter.

'All citizens, men and women, young and old, voted in favour of the Charter with a national will to steer the kingdom to its goals.-TradeArabia News Service