Bahrain has pledged to cut bureaucracy through an open-door policy aimed at ensuring people to have easier access to municipal services.

Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi has introduced an open-door policy - to personally listen to the complaints of citizens directly, reported the Gulf daily News, our sister publication.

"We are already working with the five municipal councils to provide services and have managed to solve many problems that people have been complaining about," he said during his monthly majlis at the ministry complex in Manama yesterday.

"However, there are instances when people's voices are not heard or get drowned out. They need another chance to present their case, which could benefit them as well as others."

Dr Al Ka'abi said the ministry has started offering services through customer service desks, but new innovative ideas were necessary to cut bureaucracy. He said these included simplifying its systems and speeding up the issuing of municipal licences.-TradeArabia News Service