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With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 drawing near, Indian expatriate forum Diaspora of Malappuram (DoM) Qatar is all set to implement an array of programmes across Qatar and the southern state of Kerala. The plan, which includes sports campaigns, competitions and healthy life promotion activities, will be implemented while joining hands with the Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy (SC) and the Indian Embassy affiliated Indian Sports Centre (ISC). “Being a responsible community organisation, it’s high time we support the efforts being made by Qatar to make the World Cup a grand success. We have submitted a detailed proposal to SC,” DoM Qatar president Mashood VC told Community. While heralding the one year plan, DoM Qatar Kick-Off 2022 was recently held and a grand launch of DoM Qatar sports activities will be held on December 24 at Ideal Indian School. In Qatar, school and community level football tournaments, sevens tournament, quiz programme, a meet football legends programme, sports exhibition and site visits will be held. The All India Football Shootout match on December 24 will be attended by 40 teams. The District Football League will be held in January with the participation of community football clubs and organisations. A FIFA World Cup Tour has been planned at Malappuram next year. “Malappuram is globally known for its love and craze towards football. We are planning a World Cup Tour in Malappuram while lending the fans an opportunity to see the World Cup trophy, know about the milestones of World Cup 2022 and Qatar’s preparations to host the mega event while detailing the plans and arrangements,” he said. Also, DoM Qatar has plans to take SC delegates and FIFA officials to Malappuram District in order to help them feel the football fever there. “Among the plans, the highlight is hosting 500 fans from Malappuram, in line with the Host a Fan initiative by SC,” he said. DoM members will support the community outreach programmes by the authorities and a DoM Qatar theme song will be released as a tribute to the World Cup while showcasing Qatar’s preparations. Also, a souvenir will be released in connection with the programmes. With more than 1,000 members DoM Qatar has been active in organising and promoting community based activities. It has students, arts and women wings that are focusing on cultural, educational and social empowering activities across Qatar.

The fourth edition of the Flower Festival at Souq Waqif continues to draw crowds. Featuring flowers, plants, seeds and agricultural equipment, the event which runs until December 11 at the West Square of Doha's popular landmark, is organised by Souq Waqif management in co-operation with the Ministry of Municipality. With 24 flower stalls, the festival is participated by nine private farms and 15 agricultural nurseries from across Qatar. The stalls sell a variety of indoor and outdoor flowering, leafy, vegetable and herb plants. These are in addition to seeds, pots, potting soil, locally-made fertilisers, pesticides and farming and gardening accessories. One of the visitors, Mohamed Shafi, told Gulf Times that the festival is a great attraction for gardening and farming enthusiasts. lovers to buy products of there needs. Unique flower installations spread across the festival venue provides captivating and colourful photo backdrops for visitors. The organisers have used as many as 100,000 flowers for the purpose. Souq Waqif director Mohammed al-Salem, in a statement to local Arabic daily Arrayah, said during winter, citizens are keen to decorate their homes with seasonal flowers in diverse colours and shapes. "There has been a remarkable improvement in the number of participation by farms and nurseries while displaying a large number of flowers, seedlings and trees,” al-Salem said. The festival is open from 9am to 9pm Saturday to Wednesday and from 9am to 10pm on Thursday. On Fridays, the doors are open from 3pm to 10pm. In keeping with Covid-19 protocols, entry is only for vaccinated visitors with Ehteraz green status and wearing masks.    

Baby Elephant Organic Wear on Wednesday launched its winter collection at Studio 7 at M7 Building of Msheireb Downtown Doha in the presence of Spanish ambassador Belen Alfaro, Gulf Times Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka and other dignitaries. The winter collection has a wide selection of organic super soft clothes for newborns and older kids. These include hoodies, pants, tees, shorts, jackets and kids' sets. While addressing the launching ceremony Baby Elephant Organic Wear founder and designer Aysha al-Mudahka, said she was proud to launch a new brand of clothes that convey the messages of sustainability and environmental preservation. Baby Elephant Organic Wear founders Aysha al-Mudahka and Ieva Simkiene at the launch event. PICTURES Thajudheen. “The brand is organic, cool and Arabic inspired. Our inspiration is kids. And we strongly believe in our idea of sustainability,” al-Mudahka said, adding that Baby Elephant Organic Wear is an initiative that educates people about organic clothing and its advantages over other conventional clothes. Spanish ambassador Belen Alfaro with Baby Elephant Organic Wear founders Aysha al-Mudahka and Ieva Simkiene Baby Elephant’s clothes are produced abroad following the designing pattern that suits the Qatari demand and environment while locally packed. Baby Elephant Organic Wear has comfortable and unisex designs featuring Arabic phrases. These designs are made from 100% organic cotton that is softer to the baby's skin. Baby Elephant Organic Wear also follows the zero waste concept. So the hangtags and packaging are made of cutting waste from the fabrics. The packaging materials are recycled and sustainable. A selection of Baby Elephant Organic Wear winter collection “These are locally inspired designs, ethically made from 100% Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic cotton. They are packed in a locally produced box, made from recycled paper,” said Ieva Simkiene, founder and manager of Baby Elephant Organic Wear. Baby Elephant Organic Wear has a wide selection of organic super soft clothes for newborns and older kids She said that Baby Elephant Organic Wear wants to leave a strong message of environmental protection while selling super soft clothes. “We follow sustainable and locally inspired designs and create unisex and comfy timeless designs. We don’t chase trends. Instead, we try to ensure sustainability and promote the idea of environmental protection among youngsters and kids,” Ieva said, adding that the focus is on quality and using harmless materials. She explained that the initiative is helping a large number of farmers who follow conventional farming methods while importing cotton from the villages. Baby Elephant Organic Wear’s products are available at Galeries Lafayette and Salam Stores. Online buyers can find the products at https://babyelephantorganic.com/collections/all. The special Qatar National Day collections are available at https://babyelephantorganic.com/collections/qnd.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has reminded the public not to make unnecessary calls to the emergency number 999. "Children tampering with 999 causes big annoyance for service staff and delays service delivery for those who are in need," explained Capt Ali Jassim al-Khulaifi, Officer at Emergency Services 999. Addressing an awareness seminar on ‘Services of Rescue Police Al Fazaa and Central Operation Department to the Public’ by the MoI on Monday, urged the public to contact competent authorities if they need non-emergency services that do not need police intervention. “In such cases, callers can inquire through MoI’s website and social platforms. But, call 999 for any kind of emergency and help others to call the number if they are in need. Cooperate with staff when you call 999, keep calm and do not panic. Give essential details including residential address, name of the zone, street and building number while clearly defining the geographical location,” he said. At the awareness programme organised by MoI’s Public Relations Department, Capt al-Khulaifi also explained various services being provided by Emergency Services and said Deaf Emergency Services are available at 992. This service could be reached through video call, SMS and Email. Also, he detailed Najm and Tala’a systems that enable monitoring and controlling emergency and rescue services. First Lt Hassan Mohamed al-Ahbabi, training officer and Al Fazaa, explained the functions of the Rescue Force. The patrols are carried out in order to monitor the safety and security, provide support for various departments and control crimes. He urged all not to gather at accident spots, not obstruct the rescue works and not take pictures. Carry ID cards and show them only to police officers. “When a person in civil dress asks for ID, you can ask him to show his ID. Several incidents in which frauds cheat the public by impersonating as police officers have been reported,” he added.    

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has completed steps to support FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. “The Electricity Networks Affairs has completed all the equipment installation to secure the necessary alternative and backup energy resources for all FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums,” Kahramaa tweeted. While FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be played in eight state-of-the-art stadiums across Qatar, six of them are currently being used as venues for the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, which kicked off on Tuesday. As part of the preparations, Kahramaa has set up power stations that feed the stadiums. The feeder stations include transformers and the stadiums are fed through high quality cables. The stadiums and the feeder stations are connected to the control systems with the National Control Centre of Kahramaa. The highest standards of reliability have been ensured in its electrical network while following the highest international specifications in accordance with the requirements for stadium projects. Kahramaa has introduced an advanced protection system linked to a fibre-optic network while following the highest standards of security and safety in all its activities and operations. The works were carried out in coordination with the Supreme Committee of Delivery and Legacy (SC). Also, Kahramaa has set up district cooling stations with stadiums. The stations are operated through a central station that distributes chilled water to the stadium through a power station. From there, the water is distributed to a large number of air treatment units in the stadium to ensure the required temperature for the fan stand area and the floor of the stadium. This comes within the framework of Kahramaa’s tasks to support the organising committee of the mega event. The use of the district cooling system in stadiums is an innovative, environmentally friendly technology and one of the most efficient, sustainable, and energy-saving systems. It saves about 40% of electricity and 98% of potable water when compared to traditional cooling solutions.    

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has urged expatriates to make use of the grace period to correct the legal status of those violating Law No 21 of 2015 that regulates the entry and exit of expatriates and their residence. MoI officials, while addressing a meeting of community leaders at the headquarters of the Search and Follow-up Department (SFD) on Sunday, said those who approach the authorities will be allowed to leave the country while exempting them from all consequences of legal responsibility. The grace period started on October 10 and will end on December 31.   Lt Ahmed al-Marri The community leaders visited the SFD headquarters to witness the facilities and the arrangements for receiving applications from violators of the Law No 21 of 2015 for their status correction during the grace period. The officials, during the meeting, reiterated that those who approach the SFD will not face any kind of action, including detention, and all facilities have been made to ensure their rights and smooth travel to the home country. “Those who want to avail of the facility can come with the passport and an open ticket. We are set to help them,” Capt Kamal Tahir al-Tairi, an official at the SFD, said, adding that the process is simple and fast.   Capt Mohamed Ali al-Rashid The target groups include the following: expatriates who stay in the country violating the law without obtaining a residence permit or without renewing it and exceeding 90 days from the validity date, and no absconding complaint has been filed against them by the employer; as well as those who stay in the country violating the law and an absconding complaint (leaving the work – violation of the purpose) has been filed against them by their employers, but 30 days have not been completed from the date of filing the complaint. In such cases, their departure will be ensured by the SFD and they will be exempted from all consequences of legal responsibility while their return to Qatar on another visa will also be possible.   Capt Kamal Tahir al-Tairi “In case of those who entered Qatar on family residence permits or as visitors and have violated the period of stay or the expatriates who have violated the law and an absconding complaint (leaving the work – violation of the purpose) has been filed against them by their employer and more than 30 days have been passed from the date of filing the complaint, the SFD will ensure their departure and they can return to Qatar if they leave the country after accepting the legally prescribed reconciliation,” Capt al-Tairi explained. “In addition to this, an expatriate whose residence permit has been cancelled and has passed 90 days from its cancellation can also return to Qatar if he leaves the country after accepting the legally prescribed reconciliation. In all cases, the deportation of minors will be without a ban to return to Qatar, regardless of their violation of the provisions of the law, and they are exempted from any legal consequences,” he said. Capt Mohamed al-Rashid, an official from the Unified Services Department, explained the services provided by the department through the MoI's services centres for violators. The department provides its services for those who wish to stay inside the country after correcting their status through service centres at Umm Salal, Umm Sunaim (previously the Industrial Area service centre), Musaimeer, Al Wakra and Al Rayyan. “Among residence permit holders, the target groups are those who have violated the law and have passed 90 days from the expiry date of the residence permit or those against whom a ‘leaving work’ complaint has been filed and they wish to move to another employer," he said adding that the target groups from work visa holders are those who have violated the law while exceeding 90 days from entering the country without issuing a residence permit or against whom a ‘leaving work’ complaint has been filed and wish to stay in the country after correcting their status, provided that the approval should be obtained from the labour department for the same nationality for the new recruiter. “No application will be accepted from the violator or the person against whom a ‘leaving work’ complaint has been filed after announcing the grace period,” he added. Explaining the procedures, he said an applicant has to submit the filled-up form in any one of the five service centres. “After verifying the application to ensure compliance with the conditions, the service staff will forward it to the labour department for its decision. The whole process will take only two minutes. In normal cases, the labour department will take its decision on the application within five working days if the application meets all the conditions specified by the authorities concerned,” he explained. “Submission of the filled designated form for status correction, which is available on the MoI’s website, and a copy of the establishment's registration card for the new employer are the requirements for application for correction,” he said. Lt Ahmed al-Marri, Technical Affairs officer at the SFD, welcomed the community leaders and introduced them to the services of the department. “The violators have to approach SFD’s main reception hall along with their passport and an open travel ticket. The staff concerned will verify the data and complete all the necessary procedures within three minutes in normal cases and upon completion, a travel permit is issued to the violating person and handed over to him to go to the airport as per the schedule mentioned in the ticket as an ordinary passenger, while adhering to the Covid-19 precautionary measures followed in the country,” he said. The working hours of offices at SFD and the five MoI service centres are from 1pm to 6pm, Sunday to Thursday.

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has installed solar lamps at West Umm Slal Ali project worksite. Ashghal tweeted that it has replaced the traditional tower lights that work on diesel generators. The initiative is yielding many benefits including environmental, safety, energy and cost savings. “The initiative is implemented by Metito as part of Lean Construction Principles that aim to improve site preparation level and enhance workers safety," it was explained. Solar lights are also used at Um Ebairiya Village, South Umm Al Amad and North Bu Faseela project sites where development works are carried out by Ashghal. The initiative ensures zero carbon emission and eliminates caused by the generators running on diesel. Also, it brings down the operational cost as the solar lights cost 68% less than the diesel tower lights. The operation cost is reduced by 98%.

Qatar residents have been urged to take the booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine to get additional immunity against the pandemic. "A total of 70,000 booster doses have been administered so far in Qatar without any serious side effects," said Dr Yousef al-Maslamani, medical director of Hamad General Hospital. In an interview with Qatar TV Wednesday, the senior health official also dispelled rumours about the booster dose. "It was on the basis of scientific research that the booster or third dose got approved," he explained while clarifying that the immunity against Covid-19 begins to decrease after six months of the second dose. Regarding the impact of the third dose on travel and return policy, Dr al-Maslamani said: “We guarantee the society's protection by following precautionary measures such as masks and social distancing in addition to vaccination.” "In order to maintain 90% of the society’s immunity, we do not want any Qatar resident to travel without the booster dose to countries experiencing the third or fourth waves of the pandemic. Dr al-Maslamani explained that the protection after the second dose is for a full year and if a year hasn’t passed the privileges will remain. “We don’t prevent travelling, but rather motivate and encourage people to take the third dose,” he said. The validity of the golden frame of Ehteraz, which indicates vaccination with two doses, shall disappear after 12 months of receiving the second dose, as it has been decided by the strategic committee of the Ministry of Public Health. "This means that the person doesn’t protect himself or his community from the virus." Regarding the third or booster dose, Dr al-Maslamani said that the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine can be taken even for those vaccinated with AstraZeneca. “There are institutions that have discovered that mixing vaccines helps to increase immunity and there are countries that have done so without harm,” he explained.

The travel and return policy in Qatar has not changed for those who received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine or those who also got the booster dose, a senior health official said. Hamad General Hospital’s medical director Dr Yousef al-Maslamani was participating in the Social Distance programme on Qatar TV on Monday night. “Many studies over the past few months have indicated that the immunity provided by two doses of the vaccine wanes after six months and keeps dropping further and hence the requirement of a third dose as a booster,” he explained. “Many countries have entered the fourth wave of the pandemic. So, there is a change in the spread of the virus due to the failure to vaccinate many. This is one of the reasons for the increase in cases during the fourth wave in Qatar,” he said. The official pointed out that travellers must expect changes in the travel and return policy, explaining that Qatar announces any such change in advance. Travellers must take into account the pandemic situation in all countries before travelling. “Lifting the test and quarantine requirements may result in the disease spreading more in Qatar in addition to significantly increase the possibility of any new variant entering the country” he said. Dr al-Maslamani added that the golden frame of Ehteraz will disappear after a year of the second dose of the vaccine (if the booster dose is not taken).

• Privileges for those who don’t take Covid booster dose may change if immunity wanes after 12 months • Those travelling advised to take the booster dose Mixing vaccines does not pose any danger and those who got inoculated against Covid-19 outside Qatar can get the booster dose here, a senior health official has said. Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of Vaccination at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), made the observation while speaking to  Qatar TV on Monday. In response to a question about the third dose for people who have been vaccinated outside Qatar, the official said: “For example, those who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine outside Qatar will be given the booster dose of one of the two vaccines (in Qatar), Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna. And there is no danger as there are countries that mix two vaccines to inoculate their residents without risk.” She also indicated that privileges and relaxations granted to vaccinated people may change for those who do not take the Covid-19 vaccine booster dose and their immunity wanes after 12 months from the second dose. Addressing the issue of relaxations given to those who have received the two doses and whether they will be affected in the coming period, the official explained: “While granting privileges to those vaccinated with both doses, the period prescribed was 12 months. However, if studies prove that there is almost no immunity after 12 months of the second dose, these relaxations may change.” She reiterated the need for all eligible persons to take the booster dose to protect themselves and those around them, the elderly, at-risk groups, as well as children and infants. The MoPH had recently announced that all individuals who received their second Covid-19 vaccine dose at least six months ago are now eligible for a booster dose. Earlier, a gap of eight months was required between the second dose and the booster. But growing clinical evidence led to the decision to reduce the duration between the second dose and the third booster dose. With regard to linking the third dose to travel and the concerns people have expressed on social media in this regard, she explained: “When we advise people to take the third dose before travelling, the goal is to preserve and protect the people, especially since many countries in the world, especially Europe, are going through a fifth wave of the pandemic. “But we also inform that whoever has taken the first and second doses, and travelled and come back but not taken the booster dose, will still have all the existing privileges and is subject to the procedures announced previously in terms of quarantine, examination and other issues. We, though, stress the importance of taking the third dose for those who plan to travel,” she said. Dr al-Bayat said the MoPH is following up on clinical studies and research on Covid-19 vaccines and medicines at the level of countries around the world. “The latest studies have proven that after six months of the second dose, immunity decreases. This is why we took the decision to give the booster dose after sixth months have passed since the second dose, and change it from eight months, based on the recent information we received. In order to obtain the booster dose, the groups most at risk are contacted and an appointment is arranged for them, while the rest of the groups can book an appointment by calling the primary healthcare centres in different parts of the country,” she added. The official said no serious side effects have been recorded among those who have received the Covid-19 vaccine booster dose in Qatar. She added that the side effects are similar to those seen after the first and second doses, which include pain or heaviness in the arm for a period ranging from a few hours to a day or two.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Monday felicitated leaders of various communities in recognition of their services. The felicitation came in connection with the celebration of Qatar Human Rights Day and International Day for Tolerance and it was organised in co-operation with MoI’s Public Relations Department. The function was attended by Captain Dr. Abdul Latif al-Ali from Human Rights Department of MoI, Col. Salim Saad al-Dosari, Assistant Director of the Human Rights Department of MoI and Abdulla Mahdi al-Yami from the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) along with officials from various MoI departments attended the event.  Leaders representing Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Filipino, Bangladeshi, Yemeni, Tunisian, Moroccan, Malaysian, Indonesian, Afghan and Somali community organisations received mementos and certificates from the officials.  While addressing the function, al-Ali noted that the event was held in order to underline the role of various communities in building the nation and it came as part of Qatar’s commitment towards ensuring the rights of its expatriates. Al-Dousari said the event is part of the annual celebration of Human Rights Day and it’s aimed at enlightening the communities about their rights, their roles and obligations to Qatar. “The programme emphasises the right of various communities to practice their customs and religion while adhering to their culture and Qatari values. Also, such programmes help the communities solve their problems and achieve the security of the nation,” he said.  Al-Yami explained that MoFA has strong partnership with MoI and other bodies concerned while functioning to ensure the rights of communities in Qatar. He noted that Qatar has signed several international agreements and implemented several reforms in a bid to ensure human rights internationally and the rights of the expatriates in the country. He added that the ministry will continue to work in collaboration with its partners in this regard.

Marking a key milestone on the way to Qatar's transition to electric vehicles, HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti on Sunday inaugurated Al Sudan Bus Station, equipped with charging equipment. The new terminal is part of the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme that the Ministry of Transport (MoT) is carrying out in collaboration with various stakeholders. The inaugural ceremony was attended by HE the Minister of Municipality Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie, HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) president Dr Engineer Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi, Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari and a number of other dignitaries. HE al-Sulaiti noted that inaugurating the first out of eight public transit bus stations comes in the context of the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme that aims at creating an integrated and sustainable public transit network to cover all urban areas through coherent transportation that includes public transit buses, the Doha Metro and the Lusail Tram that will open soon. MoT’s Technical Affairs Department director Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalid al-Thani said that the massive public transit programme in Qatar, which has begun to pay off, is giving the country a ranking alongside the countries that are most advanced in terms of public transit systems and transportation services offered to citizens, residents and visitors while deploying latest associated technologies such as payment methods and tracking systems. Al Sudan Bus Station is strategically located near the Sudan Metro Station and Al Sadd Sports Club southwards. The western side of the station is neighbouring the Aspire Zone, the Villaggio Mall and the Torch Tower and other nearby destinations. "Built on an area of 65,216 sq m, the station accommodates seven bus bays that can operate 22 buses per hour, distributed on four routes with a total capacity of 1,750 passengers per day, to reach seven destinations, particularly the metro stations and bus stations located within a close range," Sheikh Mohamed al-Thani noted. The station building features an iconic curved canopy, contributing to the brand identity associated with bus stations. The canopy evokes the ripples of sand dunes with the cladding on the underside featuring linear baguette elements evoking the beautiful craftsmanship of traditional hand-made Qatari objects such as woven baskets. Public bus stations include ticketing outlets, offices for the operating company employees, a passenger waiting area and other visitor service facilities. ends.    

* The Ministry of Transport’s Public Bus Infrastructure Programme is one of the world’s most eco-friendly programmes     Qatar is heading steadily towards achieving the goal of shifting to renewable energy while making remarkable progress in all projects that are currently implemented to ensure environmental sustainability, HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti has said. Addressing the media yesterday during the inauguration of Al Sudan bus station, he said that the ministry is working on improving air quality in all public transit means and facilities within the framework of Qatar’s National Environment and Climate Change Strategy, thus bringing us one step closer to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030 goals. HE al-Sulaiti noted that the Ministry of Transport’s Public Bus Infrastructure Programme is one of the world’s most eco-friendly programmes, “laying the groundwork for a full switch to a transportation system that is powered by clean, electric energy, thus backing the country’s sustainable development requirements”. He said that five more public transit bus stations will be inaugurated before the end of the year – at Lusail, Gharrafa, the Education City, Al Wakra, and the Industrial Area. Two more stations – the Central West Bay and Msheireb – will be inaugurated in 2022, and all those facilities are equipped with electric public bus charging infrastructure. "Inaugurating Al Sudan Bus Station today, and the next ones later, is especially significant as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 nears, since the public transit network is a cornerstone for the success of that global event, providing a multimodal transportation system to give visitors an exceptional, safer, and smoother experience,” the minister added.    

HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Saif Ahmed al Sulaiti on Sunday inaugurated the Al Sudan bus terminal that was opened as part of the Public Bus Infrastructure Programme that the Ministry of Transport (MoT) is carrying out in collaboration with Public Works Authority (Ashghal). Al Sulaiti noted that the new bus terminal comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to ensure better public transportation service in Qatar. The new terminal includes bus parking spaces fully equipped with an infrastructure supportive of e-bus charging along with residential and recreational facilities and prayer halls. The inaugural ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including HE the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali al-Thani, Ashghal president Dr Eng. Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi and Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari The minister said that Qatar is steadily racing towards achieving the goal of shifting to renewable energy, noting that there is remarkable progress in all projects that are currently implemented to achieve environmental sustainability. He explained that efforts are being taken up to introduce electric buses while achieving the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030. MoT along with Ashghal is currently working on four bus depots that are being established at Lusail, Al-Rayyan, Al-Wakra and New Industrial Area. Work is underway to establish bus terminals in Lusail, Al-Wakra, Education City and Industrial Area in addition to the one that was opened at Al Sudan on Sunday. Al-Sulaiti said works are nearing completion at all these sites and they will be soon opened for the public. The Public Bus Infrastructure Programme reflects MoT’s attention to implementing the strategy of switching to clean energy in transportation to reduce carbon emissions of conventional vehicles and improve overall air and climate quality in Qatar. Among key objectives is supporting transit operations during FIFA 2022 to make Qatar second-to-none worldwide in using electric, eco-friendly vehicles during a FIFA championship, let alone integration with other public transit systems.

* 13 countries to participate in 'Watan' The ‘Watan’ joint exercise will begin Monday to confirm the security readiness of Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The three-day exercise will be held with the participation of various entities and 13 brotherly and friendly countries. Addressing a press conference, Lt Col Mubarak Sherida al-Kaabi, commander of the exercise, said the drill will be conducted with the participation of all military, civil, organisational and service authorities in Qatar according to their competence under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Chairman of the Security Committee for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Jassem Abdulaziz al-Jassim, Executive Vice President of Operations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, addressing the press conference The press conference was also attended by Jassem Abdulaziz al-Jassim, Executive Vice President of Operations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 along with senior officials from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and representatives of various communities. Touted to be the first of its kind, Watan security exercise is the largest in terms of the number of participating authorities, internally and externally. “Also, it features the diversification of various scenarios and gradations based on all kinds of potential internal and external risks during the organisation of the World Cup after being studied by specialists and experts in the areas included in the exercise,” Lt Col al-Kaabi noted. Lt. Col. Mubarak Sherida al-Kaabi, commander of Watan exercise and Jassem Abdulaziz al-Jassim, Executive Vice President of Operations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, addressing the press conference He said the exercise aims to enhance the roles of the authorities concerned while carrying out their regular and additional tasks during the event in order to measure the speed of response to emergency situations. “This is to activate the command and control mechanism and joint cooperation between military and civil authorities in order to achieve integration in their roles and implementation of the required tasks,” he noted. MoI officials and other dignitaries attending the press conference. PICS Noushad Thekkayil Lt Col al-Kaabi added that the Watan exercise also aims to enhance close cooperation with the brotherly and friendly forces and to ensure integration of efforts and cooperation to achieve the best security experiences in major sporting events hosted by Qatar. Al-Jassim said that the organisation of any global event can’t be performed by one party , but rather requires cooperation and joint coordination. “Therefore, Watan exercise simulates the effectiveness of coordination between the authorities to ensure the organization of a successful championship,” he said noting that the campaign includes a set of field and desk exercises to simulate some of the scenarios that may occur during the organisation of the tournament. “The preparations for the exercise began some time ago , and a set of civilian and military scenarios were prepared based on previous experiences and potential events with the aim of testing readiness and integration of roles to ensure a safe hosting of sporting events hosted by Qatar,” he explained. Watan exercise includes the tasks and duties of the security operations of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The exercise will be held in multiple sites in the country, including the competitive facilities and the non-competitive facilities and a number of public and tourist centres. The authorities are keen to conduct the operation with high accuracy and professionalism without compromising the normal life of residents. The outcomes of the exercise will be evaluated to identify the positives to strengthen them and the negatives, if any, will be addressed.

The Souq area in Doha is getting a major facelift while retaining the heritage elements. The various souqs are being given a new facade and the roads developed as part of the Doha Central Development and Beautification Projects by the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar. Ample pedestrian space is being developed in the souqs area. The works are fast progressing across Souq Waqif, Souq Al Asiri, Souq Al Faleh, Souq Al Jabor, Souq Al Dira and Gold Souq. As part of the project, the façades of 55 buildings in these Souqs are modified. The project is aimed at enhancing the identity of the historical and cultural legacy of Qatar and respecting the country’s natural environment. The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has said that there is a plan to involve local artists in proposing and developing some artwork in the area. The works also include infrastructure development, construction of plazas, pedestrian paths and cycling paths. As part of the project, roadside slots for car parking are developed and parking meters installed. The green areas are developed with more trees and plants. Improved street lighting, new traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, and new road signs are part of the project. Special emphasis has been given to make the area accessible to people with special needs. Among the highlights are wide pedestrian paths in conformity with international standards with connected paths that allow people with special needs to move freely without support of others between the souqs. The project also aims to develop public places and plazas to create attractive and lively places through the provision of services and aesthetic elements including resting areas, benches, kiosks, display screens and visual artworks attracting visitors to socialise and enjoy the ambience. This is in addition to beautifying the main and inner streets to raise the aesthetic value of streets, residential areas and vital centres, and to preserve the environmental balance. The works of Doha Central Development and Beautification Projects include seven major areas between Corniche and A Ring road including seven major streets. The main streets include Al Safiya Street, Sharaoh Street, Museum Street, Ali Bin Omar Al-Attiya Street, Jabr Bin Muhammad Street, Grand Hamad Street, Al Asmakh Street, Ali Bin Abdulla Street and Abdulla Bin Thani Street. ends....

With the winter approaching, shops at Souq Waqif are getting ready to welcome customers looking for camping equipment. Shop owners at the souq are all set to welcome the new season with various types of tents and other camping equipment that include carpets, lighting equipment, iron rods, ropes, bags and bulbs, among others. The shop owners expect the coming days to witness a high demand for buying tents. “Tents are considered among the most important requirements for camping, whether on beaches or in the desert. Most Qataris prefer to set up tents even if they have caravans,” said a camping supplies shop employee at Souq Waqif. Hassan Mansouri, a camping equipment supplier at the souq, said some of the buyers prefer readymade tents while others opt to buy the materials from shops like theirs and then transport the same to designated sites to set up the camps. Readymade tents are in great demand at the souq and they are mainly imported from Pakistan and Kuwait, according to some of the sellers. Pakistani tents cost from QR8,000-10,000 while the prices of tents from Kuwait range from QR10,000-15,000. According to the merchants, most Qataris prefer readymade tents in the camping season because they are easy to transport and instal. Also, these tents can resist winds and rainy weather with their waterproofed roofs. “We have buyers who customise the tents while some take the ones available here,” said one of the sellers. The prices and quality of the materials and cloth may vary. “We have different types of cotton and nylon cloths, which are available at different prices. Ropes and other materials are also available in accordance with the requirements of buyers. Cotton cloths are imported from Pakistan and India while plastic materials are brought from China,” he explained. Registration for the 2021-2022 winter camping season is being carried out in phases for different camping sites. Those interested can submit applications through the Aoun app of the ministry. The first phase of camping begins today at some sites, continuing for six months.    

Nammude Adukkalathottam Doha (Our Kitchen Garden Doha), a collective of Kerala expatriate farming enthusiasts, has launched its Young Farmer Contest, which will see participation from 40 students from eight Indian schools in Qatar. “We have distributed seeds and organic fertilisers to the participants. The aim is to make these students acquainted with the primary farming techniques and systems while drawing them towards agriculture,” Ramla Samad, executive member of the collective, told Gulf Times Community. She said the initiative will also contribute to the entrepreneurial skills of the students. The participants received seeds of tomato, brinjal, ladies finger and green chilly along with organic fertilisers during a launch function last week. The children were also given a brief description of farming methods. "The participants have started farming in their households," Samad explained. A committee of experts will visit the farms while analysing and monitoring the activities. In order to help the students get technical advice, the organising committee has set up a Whatsapp group that gives regular updates and answers questions. The final results will be announced in February 2022. Initially, the participants were selected from students of grades 5 to 9. Samad said the collective has chalked out a plan to further extend the initiative to more educational institutions while drawing more students towards farming. “We have planned farming at schools where farmlands will be set up,” she said. The group has been active in promoting and supporting household farming, gardening and spreading the culture of agriculture. Formed in 2014 with some 80 members, the collective now has more than 100 registered members while the number of affiliated farmers has reached 5,000. The initiative was inaugurated by Indian Cultural Centre president P N Baburajan. Nammude Adukkalthottam Doha President Benny Thomas welcomed the gathering. Agri Qatar managing director Mohammad Shafiq, Shaheen (Safari Group), Aneesh (Agri Qatar), Dr Sapna (Agri qatar) and collective members Ambara Pavithran, Yasser, Jawahar, Siros, Suraj, Anil, Rema Siros, Madhavi Kutty and Razia attended. Jiji Aravind, general secretary of the collective, proposed a vote of thanks. ENDS...