CAIRO, Sept. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Gamal Mubarak, secretary of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP)'s Policies Committee, on Sunday ruled out discussion of the Constitution's amendment at a NDP annual congress due in late this month.

    Speaking to reporters, Gamal said the issue of amending the Constitution would not be raised at the gathering, and the party would table a paper on citizenship and democracy outlining 19 rights for the people protected by the Constitution and the law.

    "The conference will address nine major political, economic andsocial issues," he said.

    On the political arena, the ruling party will outline its viewson laws related to the People's Assembly, parties and political rights, he said.

    Economically, the NDP will table six papers on combating poverty, improving the conditions of low-income people, protectingcompetitiveness and preventing monopoly, managing the state's assets and reforming the financial sector, customs and sales taxes,he added.

    He said financial reform would include restructuring the state-owned banks and seeking mergers, so that Egypt would have banking entities capable of competing at all levels in five years.

    Gamal said that the sales tax system would have clear policies within the framework of reforming the taxation system.

    In addition, the NDP will put forward five papers on women empowerment and combating anti-women discrimination, he said.

    Gamal denied speculations that the ruling party would allow construction on arable lands, which is currently penalized by law.

    There is speculation that Gamal, a rising star in the politicalarena, would succeed his father Hosni Mubarak to rule the most populous Arab nation. The father and son have dismissed the speculation. Enditem