The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) said the implementation of the five-year plan, which began in 2015 and was extended to 2030, was progressing with steady steps, pointing to the expansion of the number of families benefiting from the endowment bank for righteousness and piety in Qatar.
In a press conference, the directorate said that it worked, during the past year, in the Islamic affairs sector, scientific and cultural development, family, childhood and healthcare, to reach the largest target group for the list of the endowment banks - Waqf bank for the service of mosques; Waqf bank for family and child welfare; Waqf bank for scientific and cultural development; and Waqf bank for healthcare.
There are 4,329 beneficiaries who benefited from the endowment bank for righteousness and piety inside Qatar, in addition to 402 families inside Qatar benefiting from the sacrifice project, and 4,132 beneficiaries from the refrigerated car that was provided to the Hifz Al Naema Project. In a related context, HE Director General of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Ghanim al-Thani, said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the annual achievements of the General Directorate of Endowments for the year 2022 witnessed a great diversity in all religious, educational, family, and health sectors, pointing out that the achievements of endowment banks were distinguished this year by the great diversity in various societal sectors, as there were a distinguished number of beneficiaries in addition to the new projects that were launched, including endowment studies.
Commenting on the achievements of the endowment bank for the service of the Qur'an and Sunna, he confirmed that the projects were diverse in this bank, and were related to the establishment of 112 Quranic centers for males and 22 others for females, in addition to the benefit of 2,572 students through the Taahed platform for Qur'an virtual learning, and 3,637 participants in the Little Muhadeth Contest. HE Dr Sheikh Khalid revealed that 128 activities were held with 10,676 participants, in addition to co-operation to establish the Katara Prize for Qur'an recitation, and the Crowns of Light competition on Channel C for children.
On the achievements of the Waqf Bank for the Service of Mosques, HE Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Ghanim al-Thani pointed out the construction of 64 mosques and imam houses, in addition to the construction of 173 mosques and imam houses that are still under implementation, as well as the completion of maintenance, expansion and furnishings of 64 mosques and the establishment of 23 mosques, in addition to 11 mosques under completion.
In addition, HE Dr Sheikh Khalid confirmed that the projects of the Waqf Bank for Scientific and Cultural Development witnessed a great diversity, including the opening of the Center for Endowment Studies, the provision of 14 scholarships at Oxford University, in addition to 125 university scholarships inside Qatar, and 40 postgraduate scholarships in addition to sponsoring 21 students with disabilities.
A total of 959 students from 17 nationalities attended Al Salam Endowment Schools from inside Qatar, in addition to 184 students from 35 nationalities at the Religious Institute, and many other educational and cultural programs, such as printing books and university theses for Qatari students. As for the Waqf bank dedicated to the family and childhood, he said that 146 Qatari families and 64 resident ones were cared for. In addition to launching a programme for marriage that benefited 234 people and a market that included 28 shops benefiting productive Qatari families.
HE Dr Sheikh Khalid said that the bank provided permanent headquarters for Qatar Autism Society, in addition to establishing a mobile unit for blood donations in co-operation with Hamad Medical Corporation. The dialysis programme carried out 13,000 procedures, among many projects for children with diabetes, heart conditions in Qatar, and hearing disabilities in Palestine and Kyrgyzstan. He added that the biggest Waqf projects of 2022 were mainly building flats and villas in different areas in Qatar. He also said that 2022 was a distinguished year in terms of Waqf investments.
He also stressed that the General Department of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs is proceeding firmly with the five-year plan that began in 2015 and was extended to 2030. He concluded his remarks to QNA by stressing that Waqf has an important role to play in society's various avenues whether in Islamic affairs like Qur'an and Sunna or developmental ones.