HE the President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Eng Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Meer has affirmed that commemorating the anniversary of founding the modern State of Qatar by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, holds immense national and historical significance for Qatari people. It is an occasion to reflect on the country's journey and achievements while striving to fulfill its future vision under its wise leadership.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of National Day, he highlighted that this day carries deep significance, as it symbolises the strong bond of Qataris with their history, identity, and national unity. He expressed his pride in Qatari identity, commitment to national cohesion, and adherence to the values and principles established by the founding leader.He emphasised that National Day is both a celebration of a rich heritage and a recognition of the remarkable progress Qatar has made across all fields. These include social, economic, industrial, health, educational, and technological development. It is also a moment to reaffirm commitment to advancing the nation's infrastructure to the highest standards, ensuring prosperity of its citizens, stability of homeland, and sustainability of its growth and progress.Eng al-Meer stated that the leaders of this beloved country have worked diligently to preserve the historical achievements and follow the path of the founder, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani. By upholding core values, strengthening national unity, fostering development, and safeguarding sovereignty and independence, Qatar has solidified its status as a modern, progressive nation with strong roots and visionary leadership.He further pointed out continuous growth, prosperity, and elevated standing Qatar enjoys among nations. The country has made significant strides in its journey toward becoming one of the world's leading nations, achieving major accomplishments both domestically and internationally.He also stated that Ashghal has made significant achievements in infrastructure, building projects, and maintenance for the 2023-2024 period, maintaining steady progress to meet its desired objectives. The expressway network now spans over 954km, while cycling and pedestrian pathways have been expanded to a total length of about 1,327km. Additionally, green spaces and landscaping areas now cover over 9.2mn sq m, with 223,000sq m added during 2023-2024.He emphasised the Authority's strong commitment to developing road and infrastructure projects for both new and existing citizens' plots. By the end of 2023, over 250km of roads and 250km of pedestrian and cycling pathways were completed. The sewage network was extended by an additional 500km, with infrastructure services delivered to 480 plots in new areas and 2,100 plots in existing ones.HE al-Meer explained that Ashghal is focusing on enhancing sustainability and recycling initiatives as a key goal to achieve Sustainable Development Goals outlined in Qatar's National Vision 2030. This includes striking a balance between economic growth and environmental conservation. Key initiatives include recycling asphalt materials, using treated wastewater for cooling systems, irrigating green spaces, and growing fodder, along with using recycled tire rubber in asphalt mixes and recycling construction and demolition waste. The recycling rate achieved in these efforts has surpassed 50%.He emphasized Ashghal's dedication to adopting the latest strategies in project delivery, applying global best practices, and improving services to enhance customer satisfaction, all while ensuring sustainability and quality of the country's infrastructure projects.As part of its digital transformation, Eng. Al Meer highlighted that Ashghal organized the first-ever Building Technology and Services Exhibition, ConteQ Expo 2024, held from September 16-18. This event, in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and Ministry of Labor, showcased cutting-edge technologies in construction and services, marking a major step in Qatar's digital and technological transformation.He also noted that Ashghal is boosting efficiency and safety through digital innovations such as digital twins, sensors, and drones, as well as converting its administrative building into a smart building. These initiatives aim to reduce dependence on unskilled labor, replacing it with advanced technology to increase efficiency, productivity, and safety across various projects.