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The Doha Central Development and Beautification Project will improve water drainage, foul sewer and electricity networks in Doha while giving a facelift to the city. The development works are also expected to remarkably improve the traffic flow in Doha by ensuring better connectivity between roads and streets. The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is carrying out multiple works as part of the three phases of the project in various parts of Doha. The project features a host of infrastructure works. The first package features the development of Abdullah Bin Thani Street, one of the main streets in the Doha Central region. It includes the development of Al Dostour, Al Sakhama, Ras Brouq, Dar Al Kutub, Bu Hasaya, Al Ghous and Ras Usheirej streets. Lighting poles, street furniture and traffic signals for vehicles and pedestrians will be installed and pedestrian crossings and shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists set up. The aim is also to reduce traffic volume by promoting pedestrian movement besides increasing tree plantation and landscaping. During the second phase, 8.5km of surface water drainage network, 4.7km of foul sewer network and 6.8km of electricity network are to be developed while installing 329 decorative lighting poles and planting about 1,400 trees along with developing 10,000sqm of green areas. These are in addition to developing a 22.6km long pedestrian and cycling path within Doha city. The second phase of the project covers the areas surrounding the National Museum of Qatar and opposite to the Museum of Islamic Art while developing and beautifying main streets and internal neighbourhoods in addition to the infrastructure development works. The third phase features the development of 10.2km of surface water drainage network, 11.2km of foul sewer drainage network, 4.7km of electricity network, installing 515 decorative lighting poles, planting about 3,250 trees, development of about 30,000sqm of green areas and construction of 35.3km pedestrian and cycling paths. Besides, all the main streets will be covered with granite. Ashghal has said that the project meets the needs of Doha’s residents and visitors while creating memorable experiences by linking people to places and destinations through a convenient, safe and accessible public realm. All the three phases, Ashghal has informed, will be completed by the first quarter of 2022.    

While highlighting the digital transformation of governance in the country, the Qatar Government Contact Centre (QGCC) of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) said it has completed close to 4mn calls during the second quarter of 2021. MoTC tweeted that the number of calls during this period stood at 3,811,645 through the hotline 109. In April 1,293,926 calls were made while May and June recorded 1,222,250 and 1,295,469 calls respectively. Complying with the vision outlined in Qatar Digital Government 2020 Strategy and seeking to enrich Qatar residents with government e-services experience, the e-Government Steering Committee decided to apply a single sign-on platform for all government e-services and unify all e-services supported through QGCC to receive public inquiries and complaints 24x7. The hotline answers all public queries and issues related to government services. The project was introduced in a bid to provide support services to the public and communicate with customers and with government and semi-government entities in 2007. Also, the initiative was established to support the services provided on Qatar e-Government Portal - Hukoomi. It was set up by MoTC to become a technical support center for various e-services provided by MoTC and other government agencies, in addition to becoming the first governmental line of support to respond to inquiries and complaints from the public. The facility has become a link between all government agencies participating in it and the public. It’s one of the MoTC’s initiatives that enables Qatar’s government to be more efficient, effective, accessible, and customer-centric. In addition, they allow the public to better interact with the government, and executives to have access to information and tools that promote better-informed decision-making. MoTC developed QGCC with the highest level of technology and service as well as the highest quality standards to suit the requirements and services of all government entities and provide the greatest diversity of services to the public. It is one of the largest government contact centers in the Gulf region, and it accommodates a large number of government entities and institutions.    

The Government e-Correspondence System (Morasalat) recorded more than 81,000 e-correspondences during the second quarter of 2021, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has said. A total of 81,307 e-correspondences were carried out by various departments during the period. Morasalat was introduced by MoTC as one of the initiatives to improve communication among government entities and institutions in Qatar. According to a MoTC tweet, April marked 27,538 e-correspondences, followed by 18,818 and 34,951 in May and June, respectively. Morasalat is being implemented by the ministries and government institutions as a pioneering model for using digital technology to maximise the benefit of the information network, and a platform for the exchange of data online among them within the framework of the Qatar National Vision 2030. It provides automation of correspondences among the government entities by abiding by the highest standards of security. The benefits of Morasalat are manifested in saving time and effort and reducing administrative costs, while conforming to the “paperless organisation” concept. Thawtheeq records increase in the number of new accounts As many as 518,105 new accounts were added to the National Authentication System, ‘Tawtheeq’ during the second quarter of 2021, marking an increase of more than 91,000 accounts compared to the first quarter. A total of 426,537 new accounts were added in the first quarter. In April, a total of 128,572 accounts were created, followed by 187,751 and 201,782 in May and June, respectively. MoTC launched Tawtheeq while targeting the management and governance of the digital identity of individuals and businesses that use websites and online applications to access government e-services. Tawtheeq provides multiple methods for unified access to the e-services and offers numerous advantages to both digital service providers and users. These include user online registration, user verification, unified access using the same username and password to all government e-services and multilayered verification. The system also provides various means of access by either using a username and password with multi factor authentication or a smart ID card, in addition to the digital-signature service, which enables users to sign their government transactions. A unique feature is that the system simplifies the process of connecting government entities with the service via standard protocols. It features faster user access to all government services and boosts user information security in line with the Qatar Digital Government 2020 Strategy, which, as its first strategic objective, aims to better serve individuals and businesses by emphasising the customer focus through serving the people who live and work in Qatar, and businesses that fuel the nation’s economic growth. Tawtheeq, a digital identity verification function, provides safe authentication consistent with world best practices in information security. It also offers appropriate solutions to constraints that government entities face while developing their digital services such as the difficulty of verifying user credibility online during electronic transactions and the vulnerability of digital identities to theft or hacking.

A record number of more than 37mn SMS (short message service) messages were sent by various government departments during the second quarter of 2021 through the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) gateway. There is an increase of more than 2mn SMS messages compared to the first quarter of the year. A total of 37,524,146 SMS were sent by government departments through the SMS gateway during the last three months, according to a tweet by the MoTC. A total of 35,382,543 SMS messages were sent in the first quarter. During the second quarter of the current year, a total of 12,817,264 SMS messages were sent in April; 12,521,320 in May; and 12,185,562 in June. In the first quarter, the monthly number of SMS messages sent were 35,382,543, comprising 10,701,600 in January; 11,148,784 in February; and 13,532,159 in March. The facility allows government entities to send notifications to their customers and users through SMS while providing rich service experience for the customers and increasing the efficiency of e-services. Government entities will be able to better interact and communicate with their customers using the shared SMS gateway. The features provided by the SMS gateway include a two-way SMS (send/receive), sending bulk SMS, creating queue messages and developing priority SMS. It ensures increased efficiency of government services along with a quick and easy integration approach through standard protocols while allowing reduced cost and efforts for government entities by providing a plug-and-play SMS gateway.    

When it comes to patient-care, one major aspect which technology has yet to duplicate is blood formation. However, a group of expatriates has stepped in to make a difference to patients' lives. Under the aegis of Blood Donors Kerala-Qatar, the group has been organising blood donation camps and raising awareness across the country in co-ordination with authorities concerned. Since its inception in 2013, the group has saved thousands of lives by providing blood. It was in 2013 when Kerala expatriate Shaji Vettukkattil discussed with friends the formation of a collective where needy people can access blood easily. “We were inspired by the activities of Blood Donors Kerala and other communities across the world who were donating blood and raising awareness about the cause. The discussion ended up with the forming of a Whatsapp group of blood donors," Vettukkattil, one of the founding members and current president of the organisation, recalled. Thus began the start of the forum in Qatar and there has been looking back since, he said. “Till 2018, Blood Donors Kerala- Qatar organised camps once every three months. We kept growing and the camps soon became a monthly affair," said vice president Sabin Sabu. The camps are held in co-ordination with Blood Donor Centre of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) with the latter looking after the technical requirements. “Usually we take a 15-day break after each camp. Then within next two weeks, we publish posters, reach out to donors and ensure optimum facilities are available for the camp," media head Vivek Nair revealed. An annual plan is submitted to the HMC and the team starts work after its approval by the HMC Blood Donor Centre. Nurses and technical staff are sent by HMC while volunteers work as translators. Each camp is attended by around 100 donors on an average. The activities are co-ordinated by secretary Krishna Kumar, joint secretary Riyaz Jabbar and a team of special executives - Shinob, Sumesh, Junaid, Prasith, Kiran, Mohamed, Sharafudheen, Ranjith and Roopesh. Public and private entities including businesses and hospitals help the organisation meet various requirements. The data of 3,000 donors have so far been handed over to HMC. The organisation has a team of 250 volunteers working across Qatar to ensure blood donors are available as per the need. “When there is a demand for blood, especially of rare groups, we try to arrange for it as quickly as possible," Sabin said. The group has been able to help authorities with blood donations during the Covid-19 pandemic . “The pandemic has not stopped us from extending help," Vettukkattil stressed. The organisation also made 200 plasma donors available for the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) at HMC to treat Covid-19 patients. Spread over GCC and various states of India, Blood Donors Kerala has a huge network of donors. Data is shared and donors contacted whenever the need for rare blood groups arise. The organisers recalled an incident where a Doha expat even travelled to Kuwait to donate blood to a patient hailing from Mumbai who was in need of blood. The organisation is affiliated to Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) which functions under the embassy of India. The functionaries said assistance from community organisations in Qatar has been forthcoming whenever needed. The organisation is now working to draw more people towards the humanitarian cause.    

* The online payment platform of Qatar Digital Government programme marks 451,931 transactions in second quarter of 2021       Digital payment between government entities is gaining momentum in line with the Qatar Digital Government programme envisioned by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC). As per statistics released by MoTC, as many as 451,931 online transactions were conducted through EPay, the government e-payment platform, during the second quarter of 2021. The EPay gateway is one of the most significant new projects for the Qatar Digital Government by MoTC and it enables government departments to make use of digital services during transactions. Also, it enables full automation of online services, by allowing users to pay fees online securely. As per MoTC figures, 136,072 transactions were made in April and May while the number of transactions in June stood at 179,787. Epay was launched as part of MoTC’s Qatar Digital Government programme that aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government institutions and improve the services offered to the public by improving the level of government services for individuals and companies, raising the efficiency of government administrative processes, and increasing the levels of transparency and community participation. The EPay portal allows individual and corporate users to pay for the electronic services offered by various government departments in Qatar while covering all current and future e-payment needs through the provision of numerous options for payments through credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers, using multiple payment channels, such as the internet, mobile phones and mobile points of sale (mPOS). This provides users with an easy and efficient method to complete their payment process. Also, it brings several advantages to government agencies. The most notable advantages include a reduction in operating expenses due to the decrease in the number of resources required to establish, operate and support electronic payments. These are in addition to helping government entities provide e-government services in the shortest time possible.    

Further relaxations in restrictions against Covid-19 have made residents across Qatar jubilant while celebrating Eid al-Adha Tuesday. They visited beaches, tourist spots, parks and shopping malls. The celebrations will continue throughout this week. |We are having cheerful days with further relaxations coming into effect a few days ahead of Eid al-Adha,” said Advocate Issuddin KK, co-ordinator of Indian Lawyers Fraternity Forum, Qatar. In order to spend the holidays in a joyous mood and meet his friends, the Dukhan resident came into Doha where he booked a hotel to stay with his family. “This Eid is different for a host of reasons. The doors of mosques and prayer grounds were opened for special Eid prayers. Besides, we are free to enjoy more privileges like going out and visiting tourist spots,” he said, adding that people are aware of the protocols against Covid-19. Kids enjoying at a green area on the Corniche near Sheraton Doha A family at MIA Park Two kids having a good time at MIA Park People spending the evening at the Corniche near Sheraton Doha A boy spends a quiet moment with a cat at MIA Park Educationist Firos PT said he is glad to meet his kith and kin while taking his family to the destinations of their choice during the holidays. This year’s Eid is special for the Doha resident as he received some guests from Saudi Arabia. “Relaxations and lifting of hotel quarantine have made travelling easy among GCC residents. I am lucky to get my friends from Saudi Arabia in Doha to celebrate Eid,” he said. Both Issuddin and Firos noted that people have learnt to celebrate while adhering to the precautionary and preventive measures against Covid-19. “People are having a good leisure time while strictly following the protocols. I found the believers performing prayers wearing masks and keeping adequate distance between each other. No more enforcing is needed,” Issuddin said. “This trend deserves applause and we will keep improving,” Firos added. Meanwhile, prayers and fervour marked Eid-al-Adha across Qatar. The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) made more than 900 mosques and prayer grounds in various regions of the country available to receive worshippers for Eid al-Adha prayers, which started at 5.10am while maintaining the Covid-19 precautionary measures. The ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) made arrangements in 924 mosques where convenience and safety of the faithful were ensured. MME's Public Cleaning Department carried out cleanliness campaigns. Special teams with the latest equipment and machinery cleaned the prayer grounds across the country and prepared them to receive the worshippers. The Qatar Red Crescent Society deployed volunteers at mosques and prayer grounds in order to maintain safety and ensure the smooth conduct of the prayers.

With Qatar residents making final preparations for Eid-al-Adha celebrations, shopping centres and retail outlets across the country are experiencing good business. One such market, Souq Al Ali in Doha, is witnessing a flow of customers who throng tailoring shops to get their new clothes stitched. The market, which has many clothes and tailoring shops, is a popular destination for clothes, footwear, and gifts. “There is competition among these shops. This lends us a huge variety of clothes while helping us get our clothes stitched at reasonable prices,” a Qatari customer said. During the first days of Dhul-Hijjah (the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar), the market started to witness brisk flow of customers. “There are only two days remaining before the Eid holidays. Most families have already completed their shopping, so only the final rush is being felt now,” said Momin, who runs a clothes shop. Another merchant said people from across Qatar converge on Souq Al Ali as the market is a favourite among Qataris for Eid shopping. The traditional headwear (*gatra) and skull caps (*gahfiya) for men and children are also in demand. Special readymade *gatras are also sought by buyers. Shops selling Oud and perfumes have also been experiencing good business, as the Eid is a time for shopping for perfumes for use or as gifts during the celebrations. “Oud as well as other perfumes are in demand. We also get buyers for watches and rosaries,” said one shop employee. Flower bouquets and sweets are available for Eid celebrations. The market is strictly following coronavirus (Covid-19) preventative and precautionary measures prescribed by the authorities concerned.    

More than 900 mosques and prayer grounds across Qatar will host Eid-al-Adha prayers, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) has announced. Awqaf published the list of the mosques and prayer grounds on its social media accounts. Name, number and location of the 924 mosques and prayer grounds are available on Awqaf’s Twitter handle - https://twitter.com/AwqafM/status/1416706718948544515?s=19. Eid prayer will start at 5.10am. Eid al-Adha will be on July 20 based on astronomical calculations, Qatar Calendar House (QCH) has said. The mosques will be reopened at various areas including Ezgava, Umm Saneem, Al Salata Al Jadeeda, Umm Slal Ali, Umm Slal Mohamed, Umm Ghuwailina, Umm Qarn, Umm Lekhba, Bin Omran, Bin Mahmoud, Bu Sidra, Al Thumama, Al Jumailiya, Al Kharaitiyat, Al Jeryan, Al Huwaila, Al Kharrara, Al Khalidiya, Al Kharsaah, Al Kheesa, Al Dafna, Al Doha Al Jadeed, Al Thakira, Al Soudan, Al Sailiya, Al Sheehaniya, Al Ebb, The Pearl, Al Murra, Al Messila, Al Mirqab Al Jadeed, Al Meshaf, Al Mamoura, Industrial Area, Al Najada, Al Hilal, Al Wajba, Umm Ghuwailina, Al Khor, Al Duhail, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Al Rayyan Al Qadeem, Al Sadd, Simaisma, Al Sailiya, Al Sheehaniya, Al Shamal, Al Azeeziya, Bani Hajer, Bu Samra, Bu Sidra, Dukhan, Raas Lafan, Rawdat Al Hamama, Rawdat Al Khail, Rawdat Al Fars, Rawdat Aba Al Heeran, Semaisma, Onaiza, Fereej Al Nasr, Fereej bin Dirham, Fereej Al Manaseer, Fereej bin Omran, Fereej bin Mahmood, Fereej Abdul Aziz, Leibeib, Legataifiya, Meraikh, Mesaieed, Messaimeer, Msheirib, Nuaija, Wadi Al Sail, Ain Kahled, Al Ghanem Al Jadeed, Al Gharrafa, Fereej bin Omar, Al Luqta, Madinat Al Shamal, Madina Khalifa South, Madina Khalifa North, Al Matar Qadeem, Hamad International Airport, Al Mamoura, Muaither South, Muaither North, Al Najma, Al Wakra and Al Wukair. Meanwhile, strict Covid-19 preventive and precautionary measures announced earlier will be in place at mosques and prayer grounds where social distancing will be applied since Awqaf and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) have announced no relaxation. No place will be available for women, and children aged below 12 years at mosques and prayer grounds. As per the earlier advisory by Awqaf, Ehteraz with green code should be shown. Believers should co-operate with competent authorities and should not shake hands or crowd around the doors of the mosques. The Ministry of Municipality and Environment is carrying out cleanliness drives across the country while cleaning and sanitising mosques and prayer grounds ahead of Eid-al-Adha prayers.    

* Last year, the sale stood at more than 250 tonnes and we are expecting a good sale during this episode of the festival as the number of participating farms has gone up —Adel al-Kaldi al-Yafei, MME The sixth edition of the Local Dates Festival started at Souq Waqif Thursday, featuring varieties of delicious fresh dates that drew many date lovers on the opening day. With the participation of around 80 farms from across Qatar, the festival is organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) and Souq Waqif management. Running until July 30, the festival offers various varieties including Al Khalas, Al Shishi, Al Khenaizi, Al Barhi, Al Saqai, Nabt Saif, Al Lulu and Al Razizi.   Assistant director of the Agricultural Affairs Department at MME Adel al-Kaldi al-Yafei told Gulf Times that the festival will be a big draw this year with more sales and public participation. “Last year, the sale stood at more than 250 tonnes and we are expecting a good sale during this episode of the festival as the number of participating farms has gone up,” al-Yafie said. The festival aims to help local farmers get direct access to customers and make locally grown products popular. Al-Yafie noted that MME is implementing several schemes while supporting the local date farmers. These, according to him, include providing electricity, technical support, export advice and subsidies for farming. “The festival helps local date farming grow while giving them a venue to get a better market for their products,” he said.   Manager Mohamed Abdullah al-Salem said Souq Waqif will host another dates festival in November. He said the festival ensures the development of the agriculture sector while helping consumers buy good quality fresh dates at moderate prices. He added that the festival is held while keeping all Covid-19 precautionary measures in place.     Director of Business Relations at Hassad Food Mubarak al-Sahuti hailed MME and Souq Waqif management for organising the festival, noting that it’s an opportunity for local farmers to prospser while it helps customers get good, fresh locally grown dates. He added Hassad is supporting farmers and markets process dates after procuring them from local farmers. Hassad has a stall in the festival where dates and date syrup are sold.    

The corridors of Souq Waqif are coming “alive” again, after having been “deserted” for a number of months on account of government measures to control the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19). The Eid al-Adha season is bringing cheer to the merchants here, with residents starting to visit shops here in preparation to celebrate the Eid. Perfume, textile, and tailoring shops at the souq are witnessing a steady flow of people. “No crowd in large numbers is being witnessed so far. However, we’re starting to see a rush, with a few days remaining for the Eid,” said cloth merchant Zainudheen. Qatari men mostly come here to shop for the traditional *thawb (also spelt *thobe) and pants that they wear during Eid celebrations, while Qatari ladies go for traditional *abayas and *jalabiyas. *Thawbs are sold mostly in white, while *abayas and *jalabiyas are available in various designs and colours. “Some pick readymade clothes, while most buyers go for the clothes that they get stitched from the shops here,” said Abdul Rahman, another cloth merchant. Stitching services are available at some shops that sell the clothes. Arabs, according to seller Jaya Prakash, go for *thawb and *kameez while those of other ethnicities pick *jubbas, pajamas, shirts, and pants. Women from India and Pakistan, according to the cloth merchants at Souq Waqif, tended to pick conventional *churidars. The merchants added that no change has been observed with regards to the clothing choices among Qataris and expatriates. Souq Waqif has rows of shops that beckon buyers with the traditional headwear (*gatra) and skull caps (*gahfiya). Shop owners here say that readymade *gatras have been in good demand for the past few years. *Gatras for both men and children are available in various colours and designs, apart from the normal one in white. Qataris also have a penchant towards buttons that are sold here in multiple designs and sizes. “For some Qataris, the Eid is the time to buy new rosaries and watches,” said Abdul Rahman. Sales of perfumes and Oud also tended to see a spike during the Eid season. Ahmed Shahbaj, who runs a perfume shop, said that people are increasingly coming for perfumes and Oud after the lull attributed to the coronavirus pandemic. “The scenario remains grim after Covid-19 crisis struck the market. But things are improving,” he said. Shahbaj added that most people prefer to come and shop in the evening to avoid summer heat during the day.    

The Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa), represented by the National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed), has launched a plant distribution initiative as an Eid gift for its employees. "We believe that at Kahramaa, we are one family. As an Eid gift, we are giving out plants to our employees to grow them at their homes, and contribute with us to make Qatar greener. This initiative mirrors our vision to plant 10,000 trees by Kahramaa and those collaborating with us," according to a post on the Tarsheed Twitter page. Employees can collect their plants from the Kahramaa Awareness Park, Kahramaa building in Abu Hamour, Kahramaa Tower 1 and the Customer Service building in Al Hilal. This can be done Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9am to 2pm. In January this year, Kahramaa launched an initiative to plant 10,000 trees as part of the ongoing ‘Plant a Million Trees’ initiative by the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar that works under the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) in co-ordination with several ministries and other entities such as the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Culture and Sports, Qatar Museums, Qatar Rail, Private Engineering Office and others. The trees are planted at its buildings and facilities, starting with the Awareness Park. The initiative comes as a fulfilment of its social responsibility, and Kahramaa, represented by Tarsheed, co-operates with the Public Gardens Department at the MME in the initiative to plant trees. The initiative is being implemented as part of Kahramaa’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions following the Qatar National Vision 2030 environmental goal of sustainable development.    

A book by Qatar residents has received accolades from Amazon where it has secured the Best International Seller tag. Named ‘Decoding Communication – A Complete Handbook for Effective Communication’, the book is jointly authored by Girish Jain and Manzoor Moideen. “Lack of effective communication is always a shortcoming. The book is an attempt to help people from various walks of life to improve their communication skills while sharing tips and ways for effective communication,” said Girish. He added that the recognition from Amazon is indeed an achievement and indicates the response which the book could evoke within a few weeks after it was published. Girish is a chartered accountant from India with CPA certification from the University of Illinois. The graduate from Law Campus, University of Delhi is a finance professional in Doha while actively getting involved in philanthropic activities, training and motivational speaking. The book was authored driven by the quest of bringing the vital elements of communication together. “We share simple techniques to improve communication. The book tries to teach readers to learn from examples. And it helps students, teachers and professionals alike,” said Manzoor. The Keralite expatriate is a Doha based entrepreneur and is active in social activities. The book includes 11 chapters that deal with various types of communication ranging from conversation to texting. Also, they explain the techniques to improve communication and ways to successful communication. Manners that should be kept during communication are also detailed in the book while explaining the ways to attract the audience. The need for good listening is also dealt with by the book. The book helps speakers as it has exclusive parts to improve speaking skills. The chapters explain the art of good conversation and teach to articulate well for effective communication. They discuss the values and virtues of good persons and the importance of body language while sharing tips to acquire good vocabulary. Also, some motivational quotes have been given in a bid to inspire the readers and motivate them to work hard on improving their speaking and communication skills. “We have covered everything from day to day conversations to professional meetings from candid talks to consequential discussions,” said Girish. “The book has real life examples and case studies from skillful people. And we held talks with experts and surveys in order to provide readers with better experience,” said Manzoor. The chapters end with survey results and opinions from the experts along with their observations. What makes the book special is that it includes exercises that enable the learners to improve their skills by holding practices. Also, the book has graphic content and illustrations that help the readers better understand the theories.    

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) will introduce more features with Metrash 2 while enabling services to check absconding reports against the users along with new features that help them file absconding reports. First Lieutenant Ahmed Abdullah Salem Ghurab al-Marri, Officer of the Follow Up and Technical Office at Search and Follow Up Department, said the process to introduce these features is on. He was attending a virtual seminar that was organised by MoI’s Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Search and Follow-up Department on its services. First Lieutenant Abdul Azeez Saleh al-Rashedi, Head, Studies and Technical Research Section at the Criminal Evidence and Information Department, said the evening services of fingerprinting will resume after Eid- al-Adha noting the service is presently available from 6 am to 1 pm. The seminar was attended by several administrative affairs and human resources managers, government relations officials and delegates from private companies and institutions. Al-Rashedi explained the functions and missions of the department and proceedings to complete fingerprinting and get various certificates from the police and authorities concerned. Al-Marri, while explaining the functions of the Search and Follow Up Department, asked the residents and companies to follow the rules regarding the entry and exit. “Enter or exit the country without a passport or travel document or entry permit is a violation that draws imprisonment upto three years maximum and/ or fine up to QR 50000. Entry or exit the country through points other than the specified ports causes imprisonment up to three years maximum and/or fine up to QR 50,000,” he said adding that illegal visa trading can cause imprisonment up to three years maximum and/or a fine up to QR 50,000 for the first time and QR 100,000 in case of repetition. “Failure of the employer to proceed residence permit and renewal procedures within the specified period not exceeding 90 days from the expiry date will draw a fine up to QR 10,000. An employer’s failure to hand over passport to the employee after completing the procedures for getting or renewing permit draws fine upto QR 25,000 while the employer’s failure to allow the expatriate to approach the competent authorities during 30 days from the date of entry into the country to complete the resident procedures can cause fine up to QR 10,000. Failure of the expat to complete these measures will be subject to a fine up to QR 10,000,” he explained. He added that the department runs a well set up detention centre where all facilities are available for detainees who are held for violating the provisions of the law regulating the entry and residence of foreigners in the country.      

The first Indian university in Qatar will operate from The Commercial Avenue on Industrial Area Road in Ain Khalid, where it will offer undergraduate programmes from September this year. Milestone International Education, a company registered in Qatar, has partnered with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) in India to set up the MIE SPPU Institute of Higher Education. A ceremony was held on Monday to hand over the designated premises at The Commercial Avenue to the institute. The handover took place in the presence of Dr Khalid Abdullah al-Ali, acting Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), Indian ambassador to Qatar Dr Deepak Mittal, MIE chairman Ali A Latif al-Misnad, The Commercial Avenue chief executive Abdulla Haider, DPS Group chief patron Mohamed bin Hammam al-Abdulla, and MIE president Hassan Chougule. The institute is fully licensed by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar and will offer the following undergraduate programmes: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Business Administration. The officials said that the MIE SPPU Institute of Higher Education’s admissions and academic teams started functioning in Qatar in June. The institute will launch its academic programmes, under Savitribai Phule Pune University’s academic governance structure, in September. "The programmes offered by SPPU encourage academicians as well as learners to inculcate knowledge that has the ability to adapt and change as per modern circumstances,” a press statement noted. “A multidisciplinary method of educational instruction is used whereby a student learns about a topic from a variety of viewpoints.” “The approach inculcates interdisciplinary aptitude, attitude, ability and perspective," the statement added. "SPPU provides programmes of study that enable employability and opportunity globally for its graduates." Al-Misnad said there is close co-operation between the university and the MoEHE, noting that the institute was set up after several rounds of deliberations and visits to India. He added that the institute will be one of the universities that the "Qatar government and private sector can count on".“ Our graduates will be ready to join the market,” al-Misnad said. “The academic faculty conducting these courses will be recruited and deputed by Savitribai Phule Pune University and will have enough academic and industry capabilities to enable the holistic development of students and get them prepared for futuristic careers in Qatar," said Chougule. The campus will have well-structured and modern educational facilities, laboratories and libraries to ensure that students get all the required amenities. Dr Mittal said the launch of the university marks a milestone, stressing that there are vibrant India-Qatar relations in several fields. Dr al-Ali, while addressing the ceremony, said students of the institute will not require equivalency certification. “All universities outside need to get equivalency for their certificates in Qatar. But students of MIE SPPU Institute of Higher Education won’t need them,” he added. Students of MIE SPPU Institute of Higher Education will study on a state-of-the-art campus facility in The Commercial Avenue, Industrial Area Road, Ain Khalid. Prospective students and parents have been advised to register for admissions as soon as possible by contacting the admissions counsellor at 55008444 or by making an admissions enquiry on the website, www.miesppu.edu.qa Savitribai Phule Pune University is a state-owned public university established in 1949. It is a multi-disciplinary institution consisting of 50 departments and 900 affiliated colleges and institutes.    

HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani's interview reflects Qatar’s transformations that position the country as a pioneer in multiple areas of public welfare, Bangladesh ambassador Mohamed Jashim Uddin has said. In an exclusive statement to Gulf Times, the ambassador said the interview with chief editors of Qatari newspapers also speaks of the presence of an enlightened, dynamic and visionary leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. “The ongoing global pandemic and the success with which Qatar managed and contained both the waves of the deadly virus is testament to the commitment and capability of the authorities, especially the excellent health infrastructure that played a pivotal role in rendering medical treatment to both the citizens and residents. We are truly grateful to the government of Qatar for this support. Qatar also set an example in successfully rolling out vaccines and by now has covered a significant percentile of the population. As HE the Prime Minister rightly pointed out, Qatar has picked the best vaccines early on and that has surely made a big difference. The excellent arrangements put in place to vaccinate the population since December last year are yielding positive results for the country to gradually return to normalcy,” the ambassador noted. The envoy expressed his delight to see that Qatar is preparing for the Shura Council election to strengthen the Council and to ensure participation of its citizens. “With the commitment from the highest political leadership, as has been elaborated by HE the Prime Minister, the citizens of this country are poised to experience a new chapter of their participation in the electoral process to move towards strengthening the Shura Council. We wish Qatar all the best in this initiative of holding the elections for the Shura Council,” Jashim Uddin said. “Living in Qatar now, I can see the extraordinary efforts the Qatari leadership has put into preparing for the mega world cup football meet in 2022. The infrastructure is excellent as some of the stadiums have been used as venues for matches where Bangladesh football team also had the opportunity to participate. I completely agree with HE the Prime Minister that Qatar is ready to host the tournament in all respects. I am particularly pleased to see that the pandemic couldn't put a brake in slowing down the pace of the construction of the infrastructure. The balancing act of containing the pandemic and carrying on the construction activities speak of not only the commitment but also the strategic vision of the leadership here. I think the World Cup in Qatar will go down in history as one of the most remarkable ones,” he explained. The Bangladesh ambassador also hailed the positive impact on the lives of the workers and with commitment and dedication and concerted efforts with the participation of all authorities concerned saying the reforms measures to strengthen labor law will go a long way in further improving the lives of the workers. “It will benefit the employers and therefore help project Qatar as a pioneer in this area too,” he noted.    

The announcements by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani are giving hope to the expatriate community, Doha based Indian businessman and social worker Parakkal Abdulla said. "The statements underscore Qatar’s keenness to achieve further development while ensuring the welfare of all. Development initiatives are implemented in the country while taking the interests of expatriates into account. Expatriates are paid for there contributions,” the former Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly said. Qatar’s labour reforms and stands in favour of oppressed people have won international accolades, he stated. “Qatar has secured much improvement in various sectors while adding several achievements into it's credit in the past few years," he added.    

A third wave of Covid-19 is not expected in Qatar as the vaccines used in the country provide high levels of protection and are among the best in the world, stated Dr Abdullatif al-Khal, chair of the National Strategic Group on Covid-19 and head of the Infectious Diseases Division at Hamad Medical Corporation. “We are on our way to winning the battle against the Covid-19 with 60% of the population vaccinated with one dose and 46% with two doses," he told Qatar TV Thursday in an interview. Pointing out that 40% of the eligible population is yet to receive the vaccination and hence vulnerable to infection and spreading Covid-19, Dr al-Khal urged caution until 80 or 90% are vaccinated. "This is because the virus has mutations,” he explained. “I advise everyone to take the vaccine and give the vaccine to their children (12-17 years) as its effectiveness and safety have been proven. The side effects of the vaccine are generally mild and there is no medical objection to vaccination except for people who are allergic to the first dose,” he said, noting that the allergy rate from the first dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is very low. The Covid-19 situation in Qatar is improving as reflected on all indicators monitored by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in terms of daily infection, the percentage of daily positive examinations and the number of hospital admissions and intensive care cases. “Going back is possible, as it happened before. When we entered the second wave of the pandemic several months ago we had to go back and impose more restrictions. We were able to control the epidemic by imposing more restrictions in addition to expanding the vaccination,” he said. Dr al-Khal urged everyone to continue to adhere to the precautionary measures. “It’s like an adventure because the virus, even for the youth, is difficult to predict its symptoms. And even if the person recovers, he may suffer from chronic symptoms such as fatigue, lack of focus and headache,” he said. The official warned that the symptoms of infection and illness may be more severe if the vaccine is not taken. "Those who do not take the vaccine are risking their health and lives because they leave themselves exposed to the virus." Dr al-Khal further explained that giving exemptions for vaccinated people from the restrictions is not discrimination. “The infection rate among the vaccinated in closed places is less unlike among those unvaccinated."