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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...    

The third Local Dates exhibition got under way at Souq Waqif on Thursday, featuring a wide variety of dry dates from local farms. The event has been organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), represented by the Agricultural Affairs Department, and the Souq Waqif management. It aims to promote and introduce Qatari dates while encouraging local farm owners to find an outlet to display and directly market their products. The exhibition is being held as part of the MME's efforts to positively impact the sales of such products and enhance the ability of local farms to increase production levels and further develop marketing methods. The event is being held in the Western Square of Souq Waqif until October 23. It is open from 3pm-9pm on weekdays, and from 3pm-10pm on the weekend. The exhibition, which is also an opportunity for the producers and processors of local dates to exchange experiences, is being attended by 55 farms from across the country. Youssef Khaled al-Khulaifi, director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the MME, said the event features a wide variety of locally-grown dates. He noted that the ministry supported farm owners this year with space to dry dates in order to enhance the quality of their products. “A hundred rooms have been allocated so far among farmers. We have trained them to make use of the new facility,” he said. “The rooms come with high-quality dust-free production facilities, and quickly complete the drying process.” Al-Khulaifi added that there is a project to support farmers. “Named the 'Dates festival and dates purchase project', the ministry purchases dates through the project from farmers, which are then distributed to poor countries in co-operation with charities operating in the country,” he said. The official said that the products on display at the exhibition are entirely local, and that efforts have been made to ensure that the dates are good, clean and free from defects, mold, insects, impurities and other factors that may hinder their marketing. “They are from the current year's production. A team of specialists from the Agricultural Affairs Department took samples from the participating farms for examination and analysis to ensure that they are free from toxic substances and the residual effect of pesticides before participation, in addition to taking samples throughout the exhibition days,” Al-Khulaifi said. The official added that the support provided by the MME to farmers and companies working in the sector has greatly improved the quality of dates and related products, enabling them to compete with the imported varieties. Mohamed al-Salem, head of the Old Markets Department at the Private Engineering Office, said in a statement that this edition of the exhibition will be attended by 55 local farms that specialise in the production, drying and packing of dates. He noted that the exhibition venue has been prepared with all the necessary supplies and equipment to complete the marketing process by the Souq Waqif management, while taking into account the official directives of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management and adhering to coronavirus (Covid-19) precautionary measures.    

The third Local Dates exhibition got under way at Souq Waqif on Thursday, featuring a wide variety of dry dates from local farms. The event has been organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), represented by the Agricultural Affairs Department, and the Souq Waqif management. It aims to promote Qatari dates and introduce different types of the same while encouraging local farm owners to find an outlet to display and directly market their products. The exhibition is being held as part of the MME's efforts to have a positive impact on the sales of such products and enhance the ability of local farms to increase production levels and further develop marketing methods for dates. The event is being held in the Western Square of Souq Waqif until October 23. It will remain open from 3pm to 9pm on weekdays and from 3pm to 10pm on the weekend. The exhibition, which is an opportunity to exchange experiences between the producers and processors of local dates, is being attended by 55 farms from across the country. Youssef Khaled al-Khulaifi, director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at the MME, said the event features a wide variety of locally grown dates. He note that the ministry supported farm owners this year with rooms to dry dates in order to enhance the quality of theri products. “A hundred rooms have been distributed so far among farmers. We have trained them to make use of the new facility. The rooms come with high-quality dust-free production facilities and quickly complete the drying process,” he explained, adding that the exhibition is a marketing platform for farm owners. Further, al-Khulaifi said there is a project to support farmers. “Named the 'Dates festival and dates purchase project', the ministry purchases dates through the project from farmers, which are then distributed to poor countries in co-operation with charities operating in the country,” he said. He said the produce on display at the exhibition is entirely local, while ensuring that the dates are good, clean and free from defects, molds, insects, impurities and everything that may hinder their marketing. “They are from the current year's production. A team of specialists from the Agricultural Affairs Department takes samples from the participating farms for examination and analysis to ensure that they are free from toxic substances and the residual effect of pesticides before participation, in addition to taking samples throughout the exhibition days,” he informed. The official added that the support provided by the MME to farmers and companies working in the field of dates has greatly improved the quality of dates and related products, enabling them to compete with the imported varieties. Mohamed al-Salem, head of the Old Markets Department at the Private Engineering Office, said in a statement that this edition of the exhibition will be attended by 55 local farms specialized in the production, drying and packing of dates, as all participating parties offer there production of various local varieties and there derivatives for sale during the exhibition period at prices determined by them. Al-Salem noted that the exhibition venue was prepared with all the necessary supplies and equipment to complete the marketing process by Souq Waqif management while taking into account the official directives of the Supreme Committee for Crisis Management and adhering to what was stated in it regarding the precautionary measures taken.    

The Souqs in Doha are getting a major facelift while undergoing major modifications and beautification works. The buildings in Souq area are set to wear a new look with there facades modified and there vicinities beautified. Thanks to the Doha Central Development and Beautification Projects by the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar for bringing the facelift while keeping there heritage elements intact. The works are on a fast track mode while covering the buildings of Souq Waqif, Souq Al Asiri, Souq Al Faleh, Souq Al Jabor, Souq Al Dira and Gold Souq. Modification and beautification of the facades of architectural buildings are carried out in these Souqs in order to accomplish the comprehensive developmental vision of the area. 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 while utilising the extensive expertise of artists to meet the needs in terms of idea and design. 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 they are fixed with meters to encourage the public to follow a healthy lifestyle and healthy means of transportation. The works also include increasing green areas, tree plantation, implementing street lighting networks, installing new traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, and new road signs. Also, the project is designed to benefit people with special needs. It includes wide pedestrian paths in conformity with international standards at these Souqs with connected paths that allow people with special needs to move freely without support of others. These are with the provision of dedicated parking lots for people with special needs. These projects will benefit all people and visitors of Qatar, especially the residents and business stakeholders of areas covered within the area. The project also aims to develop public places and plazas in the region to create attractive and lively places through the provision of services and aesthetic elements including retiring areas, benches, kiosks, display screens and visual artworks attracting visitors to socialize and enjoy the general view. This is in addition to beautifying the main and inner streets to raise the aesthetic value of streets, residential areas and vital centers, 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.      

Travelling is getting easier in line with the tectonic changes in the technology and transportation sector. But, things often don’t go well for people with special needs as some of the tourist destinations as well as the transportation facilities remain unwelcoming. Many put their travel plans on hold while others dare to overcome the challenging accessibility. Indian expatriate Ismail bin Yousaf is simply beating the impediments while inspiring specially abled persons to fly high. The native of Thrissur district of Kerala met with an accident that left him paralysed in 2012 during his work. The wheelchair-bound 32 year old is currently touring various states back home. Ismail started his journey on September 3 this year and is on the way to Leh, the picturesque hill station in India’s Northeast tip. Starting from Nedumbassery International Airport in Kochi, Ismail has so far covered various cities including Chennai, Hyderabad, Gwalior, Agra, Delhi, Chandigarh and Shimla. Also, he visited Ladakh while enjoying mountainous views and serene lakes and monasteries. “I am glad that I could visit these cities while covering the heritage sites and tourism destinations,” he told Gulf Times Community during an online conversation. Ismail managed to cover the sites while travelling in train, bus and auto rickshaw. He took a flight from Nedumbassery to Chennai from where he travelled to Hyderabad by bus and then to Gwalior and Agra by train. Ismail says that he is driven by the theory that God made him sit in a wheelchair to fly, not to confine himself. For Ismail, the wheelchair is like a throne rather than an ordeal. He is receiving a rousing welcome at various places and visited by VIPs. Ismail said he was given support by friends and relatives who visited him in various cities upon his arrival. Ismail currently works as quantity surveyor at Qatar Design Consortium. He has gone an extra mile while volunteering for various organisations and government entities. He has been volunteering for Qatar Red Crescent Society for the last three years and won the best volunteer award in 2018. He was part of the FIFA Club World Cup and Asian Games while volunteering for the mega events. He has volunteered for various events by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Football Association, Qatar Diabetics Centre and Qatar Cancer Society. Ismail regularly attends sport events in Doha including Ooredoo Doha Marathon and Al Dana Green Run. He is part of various community organisations while discharging various roles.

Renowned Indian perfumer Abdul Rashid and his eponymous brand have been spreading the choicest fragrances across the world for as many as 65 years.   The Mumbai-based perfume connoisseur, who inherited the trade from his father as a teenager, has a loyal clientele in Qatar too. His brand Abdul Rashid is drawing oud and perfume lovers at Doha Festival City and Souq Waqif where the shops are selling natural oriental perfumes.   “We feature oud, ‘dahn al oud’, (Arabic for fat of the oud), ‘khashb al oud’ (chips of oud), amber, rosewater and musk along with oriental perfumes while serving all spectrums of customers,” Rashid told Gulf Times.   Embracing the art and science of perfumery since 1956, Rashid’s love for scents has evolved over the decades into a captivating assortment of exclusive scents that stand the test of time and entice clients across the world. “It’s the stamp of a master where passion overpowers money,” Rashid said. The brand Abdul Rashid specialises in fine quality attar and perfumes. “Perfumes, oud oil and oud fragrances are available everywhere. But, we are special  for our outstanding quality, naturality and originality,” he said. Indian cities like Mumbai and Delhi have centuries-old rich tradition of pure perfumes. Hundreds of ‘attarwalas’ or perfume sellers have inherited the tradition of producing and selling perfumes. Rashid’s father was an attarwala in Mumbai. He entered the family business while he was 15 and opened shops in Mumbai and Bengaluru while exporting good quality oriental perfumes to the GCC countries. “In Mumbai, a lot of perfume shops are spread across the streets. We offer the finest and most breathable types of incense, and even though some are very expensive, our products are known for quality and naturality. Customers love us for our distinctiveness irrespective of the price,” he said. Rashid pointed out that Indian incense remains one of the most expensive despite the presence of many types of oud. “The Indian incense is characterised by the diversity of its fragrance, which makes it an embodiment of the originality of the past, the nobility of the present and the modernity of the future in the Indian subcontinent,” he observed. Rashid collects oud from the Indian state of Assam and some Southeast Asian countries. They are preserved and refined in the factory using various extraction techniques. Rashid’s son Nabil says that his father is a oud and perfume connoisseur whom people approach to check the authenticity of the products. “The love for perfumes, his experience in the industry and passion have given him prestigious titles,” Nabil recalled. Haji Abdul Rashid is often considered a man who is not in the business for profit alone. He considers it a legacy inherited from his father. “I will leave it to my three sons who work with me,” he said, adding that the prophetic tradition that encourages the use of perfume also keeps him attached to the business. “Islam doesn’t allow extravaganza. You are accountable for what you spend and for becoming luxurious. But, you are not questioned for what you spend for perfumes in the life after. Prophetic tradition urges us to collect and use perfume,” he explained. “The Arabs are very much attached to their history and heritage wherever they live or travel. Among the legacies of the Arabs is oud. Arabs like the nobility of the products from the Indian subcontinent,” he added.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has urged the public to abide by the rules and regulations while installing security cameras and maintain them properly. "Security cameras should not be installed without the approval from the Security Systems Department (SSD)," said Capt Jassim Saleh al-Sulaiti, officer at SSD Technical Office. He was addressing a virtual awareness lecture yesterday on *Importance of Surveillance Cameras and Security Systems in Enhancing Security and Safety. The event was organised by the MoI Public Relations Department in co-operation with the SSD as part of the ongoing series of awareness campaigns. The security cameras should meet the specifications given by the MoI, the official asserted. “The SSD ensures that establishments, public places and other facilities in the country are equipped with cameras and surveillance equipment that comply with required technical specifications,” he said. Capt al-Sulaiti noted that regular campaigns are initiated to check whether the cameras work properly, and actions are initiated against violators. The MoI official explained the functions of the SSD while detailing the violations and actions against violators. He said that no camera visuals should be handed over to any agency without written permission from the SSD. “Certain requests should be submitted to the SSD, and visuals can be handed over if approval is granted. In emergency cases, the SSD may give permission by over the phone,” he explained. Capt al-Sulaiti said that the licence is cancelled if the camera manufacturing company fails to ensure that their products conform to the needed specifications and image quality. The MoI official added that no camera is to be installed inside the rooms of employees or housemaids in a manner that intrudes upon their privacy.    

The head of the Supervisory Committee of the Shura Council elections Majed Ibrahim al-Khulaifi announced yesterday the winners of the first Shura Council elections held in Qatar. Al-Khulaifi said the elections will strengthen the rule of law and institutions of the country adding that it was held in realisation of the vision of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani as announced in his speech at the opening of the 49th session of the Shura Council last year, under the direct supervision of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. The voting process saw a large participation from women. He said the election registered a voter turnout of 63.5% while the voting process began at 8am and continued until 6pm at 30 polling stations across the country. “The citizens were keen to show the spirit of responsible citizenship and the national duty of effective participation in this historic event. It as well denotes their commitment to the established values and inherited traditions of Qatari society,” he said. He added that the Ministry of Interior commends the high patriotic spirit that prevailed on the polling day and the efforts made by all entities and cadres for their effective contribution in organizing this national prerogative under constitutional and legal guarantees within a neutral and responsible environment. A woman voter casts her vote An elderly voter is helped at the polling station Elections were conducted by strictly following the Covid precautionary measures Hassan Abdullah Ghanem al-Ghanem al-Maadeed was elected from Constituency No. 5 elected unopposed. No woman candidate was elected though 26 women candidates contested from 14 constituencies. The final result approved by the elections committees are as follows: Constituency 1-Abdul Rahman Yusef Abdul Rahman al-Khelaifi Constituency 2- Ahmed Hetmi Ahmed al-Hetmi Constituency 3- Abdullah Ali Jumua al-Sulaiti Constituency 4- Eisa Ahmed Eisa Nasr al-Nasr Constituency 5- Hassan Abdullah Ghanem al-Ghanem al-Maadheed Constituency 6-Khalid Ghanem Nasser al-Ali al-Maadheed Constituency 7-Khalid Ahmed Nasser Ahmed al-Obaidan Constituency 8-Nasser bin Salmeen Khaled al-Suwaidi Constituency 9-Hamad Abdullah Abdul Rahman Ali al-Mulla Constituency 10- Khalid Abbas Ali Kamal al-Emadi Constituency 11- Nasser Muhsin Mohamed Bu Kasheesha Constituency 12- Eisa bin Arar Eisa Ali al-Rumaihi Constituency 13- Mohamed Yousef Abdul Rahman al-Mana Constituency 14-Mohamed Muftah Abdul Rahman al-Muftah Constituency 15-Yousuf Ali Yousuf al-Khatir Constituency 16- Ali Muhsin Abdullah Rashid Futais Constituency 17-Mohamed Buti Salem Kahlifa al-Abdullah Constituency 18-Ali Shabeeb Nasser al-Atiyyah Constituency 19-Nasser Matraf Eisa al-Matraf al-Humaidi Constituency 20-Ahmed Hamad Ahmed al-Hassan al-Muhannadi Constituency 21-Mohamed bin Eid Saad al-Hassan al-Kuwari Constituency 22-Mubarak Mohamed Matar al-Matar al-Kuwari Constituency 23-Yousuf Ahmed Ali al-Sada Constituency 24- Mohamed Omer Ahmed Salem al-Mannai Constituency 25- Nasser Hassan Dandoun al-Nufaihi al-Kubaisi Constituency 26-Nasser Mohamed al-Jffali al-Nuaimi Constituency 27-Sultan Hassan Mubarak al-Dabit al-Dousari Constituency 28-Mubarak Saif Hamdan Mesaf al-Mansouri Constituency 29-Ali Saeed Rashid al-Kumait al-Khayareen Constituency 30-Salem Rashid Salem Rashed al-Muraikhi It was the country’s first legislative polls to elect two-thirds of the 45-member Shura Council. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Thani will appoint the remaining 15 members of the council. Counting of votes began after polling stations closed their doors at 6pm. There were a total of 233 candidates, including 26 women, contesting for the 30 seats, according to the official Qatar News Agency. Polling stations opened their doors to voters at 8 am, allowing citizens to cast their votes by direct secret ballot system. The polling was conducted in strict adherence of of the Covid-19 precautionary measures followed in the country.

Voting for the first phase of the Shura Council elections started at 30 electoral districts on  Saturday morning. In various regions of the country, voting booths started to mark Qataris turning up to elect Shura representatives while casting their votes. The polling stations recorded huge voters turnout in the initial phase of voting.  The first vote was cast at 8 am at the polling stations where all arrangements were made by the Ministry of Interior to host the electoral process early in the morning on Monday. Officials were deployed at the centres with all arrangements including refreshments and seating facilities in place.  Spread over various locations in Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Wakra, Al Shamal and Al Khor, voting is held at 30 centres in total.  Separate booths have been set up for men and women who enter the first counter from where they are taken to the polling booth after the registration and verification processes are completed. Senior citizens and people with special needs are given assistance to complete the proceedings and enter the counters.  At voting stations, voters adhere to strict Covid-19 precautionary measures while maintaining social distance, wearing masks and using sanitizer. Also, voters are told to show Ehteraz upon entering the first counter. In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the process, volunteers of the Qatar Red Crescent Society along with Al Faaza and police personnel have been deployed.  The polling stations open their doors to voters until 6pm. There are 252 candidates, including 27 women, are competing to win two-thirds (30 seats) of the 45-seat Shura Council, while the other 15 members will be appointed as stipulated in the Qatari Constitution. Candidates who gain the relative majority of eligible votes will be elected to the Shura Council, and in the case when two or more candidates have an equal number of votes, the head of the electoral committee could then cast his vote to decide the winner. The election that's seen as a major milestone in the country's history, Qataris elect 30 members out of the 45 Shura Council members in the secret ballot while HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani appointing the remaining 15.