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*29km-long Corridor is one of the largest road projects executed by Ashghal At a grand ceremony, the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, described as a vital artery in the heart of Doha, was inaugurated by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani and Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber al-Ali al-Sabah Wednesday. The event in adherence to the Covid-19 protocols, took place on Qatar's first cable-stayed bridge, an integral part of the Corridor, beautifully lit up in the national colours of Qatar and Kuwait and decorated with the national flags. The inauguration coincided with celebration of the National Day and Liberation Day Anniversary of Kuwait and was described as a gift to the brotherly nation. A wide view of Qatar's first cable-stayed bridge, an integral part of the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, Wednesday. The Corridor was built in appreciation of the late Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. It was in February 2019 that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani directed to name the Corridor after Sheikh Sabah, embodying the deep historic ties of brotherhood and in appreciation of his humanitarian efforts. Dignitaries on Qatar's first cable-stayed bridge during the inaugural ceremony of the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor Wednesday in Doha. The ceremony saw the presence of a number of ministers, diplomats, a delegation from Kuwait, and representatives of the companies implementing the project. At the beginning of the inaugural event, a short video that highlighted the life and contributions of Sheikh Sabah was screened. Another film shed light on the distinct features of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, a prestigious project of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), as one of the largest road infrastructure projects in the country, including bridges, intersections and tunnels and serving six FIFA 2022 World Cup stadiums. HE the Prime Minister, Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and other dignitaries during the inaugural ceremony The 29km Corridor cuts 70% of travel time from Hamad International Airport (HIA) to Al Shamal Road while intersecting with 15 main roads including Ras Bu Abboud Street, Industrial Area Road, Salwa Road, Al Waab Street and Al Rayyan Road and connecting 25 residential neighbourhoods with many commercial, educational and health facilities. The Corridor, which is the alternative route for Doha Expressway and 22 February Street, also comprises Qatar's longest bridge, longest and deepest tunnel and largest intersection. HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti said the Corridor is an important addition to the land transport network serving many other transport sectors including HIA and the Doha Metro network. Ashghal president Dr Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohannadi highlighted that the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor is open to traffic a few months ahead of schedule, with the works unaffected even by the Covid-19 pandemic. Yousef al-Emadi, director of Projects Affairs at Ashghal said the government spared no effort to speed up the completion of works. He noted that around 60% of locally manufactured materials were used in the project. The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi said Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will serve six FIFA 2022 World Cup stadiums, including Al Thumama, Al Janoub, Khalifa International and Education City. 

Milipol Qatar 2021 continues to draw major Qatari and international firms with the exhibition registration evoking a good response. According to the latest figures available on the official Milipol website, the number of exhibitors in the 13th edition of the exhibition has reached 131. The attendees' list has government entities and major companies concerned with homeland security and civil defence. These include subsidiaries of Barzan Holdings such as Barood Factory, Edraq Healthcare Solutions and Barzan Aeronautical, as well as BQ Solutions, Qatar Cyber Academy and QSUR Trading, Ooredoo Qatar, Rheinmetall Barzan Advanced Technologies (RBAT) and Louis Marine Equipment Sale, GBM Qatar, GET Group Holding, KTC International Qatar, Global Armoring Factory, European Guarding and Security Services Company, Fahad Contracting and Trading and ISC Group Gulf. A number of leading technology companies from across Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean region, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent will attend the event while exhibiting a wide range of offerings of equipment, systems, products and sector-specific advice. The exhibition will be held from March 15 to March 17 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event, one of the leading international exhibitions in the internal security and civil defence sectors, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The organisers have said this edition of the event will be held in an environment marked by precautionary measures in order to reduce health risks. All personal protection systems and equipment will be available during the event. Periodical sanitisation will be carried in line with the highest health standards approved by the Ministry of Public Health. Milipol Qatar 2021 is an important platform that will help the public access everything related to the field of internal security and civil defence in the Middle East, which is witnessing rapid growth driven by technical developments as well as the growth of internal health and safety requirements in the wake of the spread of Covid-19. The Milipol Qatar event will attract the most prominent bodies in the public and industrial security sector around the world. The exhibition will showcase the latest innovative products and services in the areas of security and safety, protection and prevention devices. The event is expected to meet a large part of the growing security need of Qatar in line with National Vision 2030. The organising committee has provided electronic registration for attending the exhibition. Participants can register at https://www.milipolqatar.com/

They chose to go off the beaten track and tread on a 'green' path, scripting stories of success in farming here in Qatar. Under the umbrella of Nammude Adukkalathottam Doha, which is literally translated as 'Our homestead farm Doha', this group of expatriates from the southern Indian state of Kerala is 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 collective was formed as an entity in 2014 even though the initial idea was conceived in the beginning of 2010. Taking a cue from the good response we have been receiving, our group is spreading wings to more areas while drawing more expatriates towards the idea of farming," said collective president Ambhara Pavithran. A resident of Umm Al Seneem, Ambhara hails from Thrissur district in Kerala. Initially, Ambhara and her farming enthusiast friends, including Ramla Samad and Jisha Krishna, started a Facebook group for expatriates from Kerala in Qatar after getting inspired by similar initiatives back home. “I come from a family of farmers. Like my friends, passion drew me towards trying a hand at farming in order to keep myself busy during leisure time on my terrace and in the house. After we joined hands, the idea started to gain ground among the expatriates, and there was much enthusiasm that prompted us to further explore," recalled Ramla, an Al Thumama resident and hailing from Kozhikode district. The group's members are now growing various commonly used vegetables and plants. Some of them have gone the extra mile by growing plantain and coconut trees and also producing seasonal local vegetables. What makes the group particularly significant is the use of organic farming by the members. “Driven by a desire to eat fresh and pesticide-free vegetables, we opt for methods that comply with organic farming standards. Besides, it's a great thing to achieve maximum self-sufficiency when it comes to producing things people eat," said Al Mamoura resident Jisha Krishna, who also belongs to Kozhikode. Working both online and offline, Nammude Adukkalathottam has set up a strong network of farmers and experts. “Help is available in our social media groups where advice could be sought from experts and members who regularly share tips about technology and manure. Besides, we have been organising training programmes that are attended by government experts from Kerala. These help the members gain an idea of the latest technology and trends and get the best possible yield," she explained. Also, the network helps people get seeds and manure. “Earlier, we used to get seeds from Kerala to meet the requirements of members. Now, members contribute seeds that are distributed freely," Ambhara said. The group holds annual gatherings and also organises a 'harvest festival' in February and an award distribution function in August-September. Ambhara said the function sees the felicitation of around 25 farmers for their achievements and contributions, and also serves as a platform where participants share ideas and exchange their products. The functions are managed by group functionaries Jawahar Bharatan, Benny Thomas, Siroz, Jiji Aravind, Sooraj Ramanathan, Yasir, Raziya Panayi, Viji Joseph, Meena Philip and Anil Thomas. The group grabbed attention and rose to stardom after its members cultivated a 70-cent plot at the Al Dosari farm in Al Sheehaniya in 2014. "We were excited and even paddy was cultivated. Believe me, we travelled all the way from Doha to the farm regularly and some of them stayed there during weekends and holidays," Ramla reminisced. Farming, however, came to a halt there in 2018. Ambhara has kept some paddy seeds in her house while cherishing the memories of the "good old days" at Al Dosari farm. In recognition of their the efforts, Ambhara, Jisha and Meena were felicitated by the Kerala government in 2015 while giving them awards for being the best expatriate farmers. “Lack of space is an issue while some of us struggle to get water. But I have found many kindhearted Qataris who often extend a helping hand while giving land and other facilities," said Ramla. The group functionaries have urged the authorities concerned to extend support while allocating land for farming. “There are hundreds who want to farm. Many more will be drawn towards farming if land and other facilities are ensured, including water and electricity," added Ambhara.    

The Aquatic Research Centre (ARC) of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) at Ras Matbakh will produce 1,000 tonnes shrimp next year. "Plans are progressing in this regard," ARC director Ibrahim Salman al-Muhannadi recently told Qatar TV. “The country currently imports 100% of its shrimp requirement from abroad,” he explained. The ARC has two hatcheries, one for fish and the other for shrimp. Modern methods and devices are used for shrimp hatching while a special laboratory measures the extent of shrimp's tolerance to salinity, temperature and diseases. This is in addition to the research to reduce salinity so that shrimp can be farmed in freshwater. In December 2020, the MME announced the production of the first batch of shrimps at the centre. Out of the total production of around 250,000 shrimp larvae (PL25 type), about 160,000 were moved to the external cages, with work progressing to produce at least 2mn larvae by the end of March 2021. In an attempt to increase fish production, preserve marine wealth and promote research, the ministry opened ARC in January 2020. The centre focuses on the production of high quality fish as per the needs of the local market. The centre has made a future plan to produce 80mn baby fish and shrimp yearly. In progress is a programme to produce 2.5mn baby fishes of Hamour, yellowfin seabream (Al Shaam) and sparidentex hasta (Al Sobeiti) species. It is also envisaged to produce 15mn baby fish and shrimp during the first three years by making use of 180 ponds. After three years of producing Hamour, Al Shaam, Al Sobeiti and local shrimp, there is a plan to focus on specific species, in order to achieve self-sufficiency and meet the needs of the local market.  

Sewage treatment in Doha is set for a further enhancement as the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is working on the upgrade of four sewage pumping stations. Ashghal, which is working on the New Slata, Al Mansoura, Al Messila and Al Rayyan pumping stations, has informed that the works will be completed by the second quarter of 2021, significantly increasing their capacity.   According to Ashghal, the capacity of the pumping stations will be increased by 62% to 211% in vital areas within Doha. As part of the project, upgrade and refurbishment works are being carried out to accommodate both current and future sewage flows within these important areas, and to cope with the future development and expected population growth. The capacity of the New Slata pumping station will be increased by approximately 62%, allowing around 8,600 cubic metres per day to be pumped instead of the current 5,300 cubic metres. On the other hand, the capacity of the Al Messila pumping station capacity will be raised by approximately 211%, allowing 14,000 cubic metres per day to be pumped instead of the existing 4,500 cubic metres.  The Al Rayyan pumping station’s capacity will be increased by 161%, allowing the pumping of around 4,700 cubic metres per day instead of the current 1,800 cubic metres. The refurbishment works include the installation of new equipment to improve the pumping stations’ performance and functions with an upgrade of their control systems, including new telemetry systems, improved fire alarm and suppression systems, as well as new instrumentation, among others.  These are in addition to improved odour control systems to prevent or reduce odours in the surrounding areas. The New Slata, Al Messila and Al Rayyan pumping stations will undergo a “dramatic increase” in their ability to accommodate and pump sewage flows as opposed to the current capacity with the existing pumping stations and equipment. Upgrade works at the Al Mansoura pumping station include the installation of new equipment and construction of a new odour control unit to enable more efficient operations and to prevent odour. In addition, the project includes the decommissioning of the Ras Abu Abboud pumping station, which is to be replaced by a new gravity sewer line. During the project implementation, Ashghal is also supporting local manufacturers by making use of locally made materials such as concrete, reinforced steel, precast manholes, glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes and ducts, GRP tanks, unplasticised polyvinyl chloride pipes and conduits and reinforced concrete jacking pipes. Ashghal has ensured that these pipes meet the required quality standards and qualifications.

The field technical survey by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) will cover 20,000km of roads, bridges and tunnels, according to a tweet. The objective is to provide a safe, high-quality road network and building up a smart database for assessing road assets performance, improving safety and reducing road accidents. Also, the survey will review other road assets including lamp posts, road sign and safety barriers. The exercise is a part of MoTC’s efforts to support the Second National Development Strategy (2018-2022) and Qatar National Vision 2030 and provide sustainable road maintenance solutions in the country and encourage the private sector’s involvement in transportation and mobility projects while preserving capital investments and gains. Advanced techniques and devices are used for assessing road assets performance, using the 3D MX9 survey system. 3D profiling of road surface is carried by using Road Measurement Data Acquisition System (ROMDAS) multifunctional devices while adhering to global specifications and Qatar Roads Maintenance Manual. MoTC has deployed advanced systems to collect, process and update data which is uploaded to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platforms while measuring the slipperiness of the road surfaces to enhance safety and reduce traffic accidents. Also, the international roughness index is measured to ensure high quality roads. MoTC informed that nearly 3,125km of local roads have been so far examined while nearly 1,900km of main and vital roads have been panoramically profiled. Nearly 1,000km of road surfaces have been surveyed with 3D devices ROMDAS. In August 2020, MoTC signed an MoU with Ashghal for planning, studying, designing, maintaining and managing the road projects as part of upgrading the level of collaboration, joint efforts and constructive cooperation with the aim of providing a safe, integrated transportation system in line with best universal practices and standards. MoTC and Ashghal look to develop and manage the mobility and transportation projects as an integrated network compatible with other modes of transportation in an efficient, economic, safe and environment-friendly fashion. The MoU defines and explains the roles, missions and responsibilities of the two sides based on the Amiri decisions in such a way that avoids duplication and limits overlapping through a joint working mechanism for planning, studying, designing, implementing, operating, maintaining and managing the road projects in the country according to approved development plans. The MoU also covers activating community participation, facilitating co-operation, transferring knowledge and technology for supporting the efforts of achieving Qatar National Vision 2030 as well as realising mutual benefits, services and expertise that both parties can make available for each other.    

The B-Ring Road development project will help improve traffic connectivity to various tourist destinations in Doha such as National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif and Al Bidda Park. Also, the road will ensure better access to commercial establishments there.  The project is scheduled for completion this year, according to the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). The project area covers several Doha Metro stations and the works will facilitate transportation between a number of vital destinations in the centre of Doha and other places in the city and beyond it. The project, according to details available on the Ashghal website, is aimed at developing B-Ring Road and Al Khaleej Street, with a total length of 10km, and enhancing their capacity by increasing the number of lanes on each of them from two to three lanes in each direction.  Development works are being carried out on Al Khaleej Street, which sees heavy traffic, in order to ensure better vehicular movement. The street also serves dense residential areas and connects directly to several major important roads such as Salwa Road, B-Ring Road and Onaiza Street. It runs through a strategic location that serves many tourist and commercial destinations such as Msheireb, Al Bidda Park, Doha Corniche, Al Sadd, Bin Mahmoud and others, in addition to health facilities such as Rumailah Hospital.  These are in addition to the works to set up a bicycle path of 1.2km, pedestrian paths of 18.2km and two pedestrian bridges on Al Khaleej Street. Ashghal noted that the project aims to fully revamp the networks of surface water drainage, drinking water, treated sewage and sewage.  Also, it will renovate the irrigation facilities of green spaces along with electricity networks, street lighting and communications networks in addition to increasing the number of car parking lots from 97 to 153 in the area. Ashghal has adopted measures to limit the impact of construction works on commuters and reduce traffic jams within the project area. The project include works of the lanes from Al Doha Al Jadeeda Interchange (Crazy Signal) to Al Riffa Interchange (Sana Signal) and those from Al Riffa Interchange to Al Doha Al Jadeeda Interchange.

While continuing its efforts to provide residents with space to engage in physical activities and encourage a healthy lifestyle, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is setting up pedestrian and cycle paths as part of the Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Project. The 6.1km paths extend from the Airport interchange to the Ras Bu Fontas Metro Station. According to the details on Ashghal website, Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade project will be completed during the second quarter of this year bringing a remarkable development in road traffic improvement between Doha, Al Wakra and the southern areas of the country and creating a strategic link between Doha and Al Wakra. The road will directly connect the newly opened Expressway projects of G-Ring Road and the southern part of Doha Express Highway. Additionally, it serves the residential complexes, located on both the eastern and western sides of the road. The main road of Al Wakra will also be integrated with the metro station. In October last year, Ashghal completed 73% of Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Project. Also complete are many components of the project where the intersection between Al Wakra Road and Ras Bu Fontas Street was opened to traffic. The recent openings are integrated with Al Wakra Metro Station, one of Qatar Rail's main stations. The opening of the intersection and Al Wakra Tunnel improved traffic between Doha and Al Wakra and provided free traffic flow for road users from Ras Bu Fontas station towards Pearl Roundabout. Ashghal also moved the iconic Pearl structure to Al-Wakra Souq and reinstalled it near Al Farda Roundabout to enable the reconstruction of the Pearl Roundabout into a signal-controlled intersection as part of Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Project. The upgrade of Al Wakra main road is one of the key projects of Qatar’s expressway network. It will have a significant positive impact on the traffic movement in the country’s southern areas and contribute to reducing pressure on existing roads in other areas of Al Wakra by 60%.    

 The Ministry of Interior (MoI) reiterated on Monday that unauthorised photography in public places with cameras or mobile phones, violating the sanctity of private life will draw a penalty not exceeding QR10,000 and imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years as stipulated by Law No.4 of 2017. Speaking at a virtual awareness programme, First Lieutenant Engineer Abdulaziz Mohamed al-Kaabi from the Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating Department at the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation explained that the law was issued in 2017 after amending Article 333 of the Qatar Penal Code. The seminar on ‘Prevention of Financial and Cyber Crimes’ was organised by the MoI's Public Relations Department as part of a series of awareness programmes for communities in Qatar. Representatives from various companies and communities attended. Al-Kaabi noted that blackmailing is a punishable offence by Qatar Law No.14 of 2014 and it draws imprisonment of not more than three years and a fine of not more than QR100,000 or either of these. Any person who uses information technology or network to threaten or blackmail will face action. Al-Kaabi said the increasing dependency on information technology has led to the emergence of new opportunities for cultural, social, economic, political and legal development and there has been an increase in digital risks because of the irresponsible use of technology. “We see that most of the traditional crimes have moved to the digital environment,” he said while pointing out that the five main types of cyber crimes are hacking, fraud, threat and blackmail, sexual exploitation of children and spreading rumours. The department collects inferences, investigates, probes, searches and tracks offenders while combating cyber crimes. The department, is also responsible for monitoring all activities that violate the law of security and cyberspace and receives complaints from the public and companies and proceeds to find the violators, the official said. While explaining the mechanism to combat cyber crimes, al-Kaabi described that prevention and awareness are the basic lines to address them. The department is carrying awareness campaigns targeting all types of people. The official urged everyone to be careful against phishing and while doing transactions by using ATM and credit cards. Links from untrusted sources should not be opened in email. “Don’t respond to messages from unknown sources saying you won a prize or asking you to share your personal or financial information, and ignore fraudulent messages,” he added. Public can contact the department through Metrash 2 or hotline 66815757 or telephone 2347444 or email [email protected].      

The ongoing inaugural edition of Al Khor Carnival, which highlights the cultural legacy and heritage of Qatar and features an array of entertainment and shopping opportunities, is drawing crowds at Al Bayt Stadium Park. Saoud Abdulla al-Mahmoud, member of committee, Al Khor Carnival “We have set up a world of delight and festivities in order to help Qatar residents have an amazing experience while viewing the cultural activities and shows and holding shopping at the bazaars here. The carnival highlights the rich tradition and heritage of culture while lending the opportunity to enjoy live entertainment,” said Saoud Abdulla al-Mahmoud, A member of organising committee, Al Khor Carnival. Described as the “biggest festival of the year”, the carnival is organised and managed by Aspire Zone Foundation. Entry is for free, while the games start from QR10 and premium shows for QR100. Spread over 100,000 sqm, the carnival features fun rides, cultural activities, inflatable park, shopping spaces apart from shows and visual displays in four zones with the first zone allocated for food and beverages with more than 50 vendors.   The second zone is occupied by various government entities including Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Museums, and Qatar Red Crescent Society. The third zone has the show areas and entertainment facilities while the fourth zone is dedicated to the bazaar. Food outlets and food trucks offer a wide cuisine to the visitors The bazaar has around 100 outlets selling local and imported products ranging from dates to farming equipment. There is a wide variety of food products, honey and clothes in addition to plants. The kids activity and play areas have a vast area for entertainment, including an inflatable park. “We welcome all to the carnival,” al-Mahmoud said while observing that all services are affordable. The official pointed out that the carnival is attracting visitors from across Qatar including Doha. Efforts are on to hold such events in various areas. “The people are welcoming the idea and this has come as a recognition,” he said. There is a plan to make the carnival a yearly festival, al-Mahmoud added. The authorities have put in place strict precautionary and preventive measures against the Covid-19 pandemic. The carnival, open from 12noon to 10pm at Al Bayt Stadium, will continue until February 6.

With its focus on the Qatari heritage and legacy along with the modern day life, the Sea Shore Art at Al Khor Carnival gives an opportunity to artists to showcase their talent. The carnival has an exclusive place for graffiti that features the resilient face of Qatari art. Saeeda Habeeb's artwork depicts women's life in Qatar Mustafa Ameen at work “We are here to showcase how the Qatari artists work. The graffiti is an attempt to highlight our presence,” said Saeeda Habeeb, who depicts women's life in Qatar - past and present. A member of Qatar Fine Arts Association under Katara - the Cultural Village, she is active in various initiatives aimed to raise awareness and add beautiful elements to public places. The artist is also part of the Jedariart programme of Qatar Museums. Mustafa Ameen, another artist at the carnival, said that the exhibition has lent him an opportunity to highlight his artistic talent while helping the visitors get an insight about the tradition's of Qatar. Another artist, Hassab Behoo’s work at the carnival features the traditions of Qatar and its football ties.

* 112 students from Qatar, Jordan, Palestine and Yemen graduate   His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani patronised the graduation ceremony of the third batch of students of the Ministry of Interior (MoI)'s Police College at the Police Training Institute in Al Sailiya Saturday morning. The ceremony marked the graduation of 112 students, including 93 Qataris from the MoI and various military entities in the State, 10 from Jordan, six from Palestine and three from Yemen. The graduation ceremony was attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Oman's Minister of Interior Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al-Busaidi, Jordan's Minister of Interior Sameer Ibrahim al-Mobaideen, a number of ministers, heads of diplomatic missions in the State and high-ranking officers of the Ministry of Defence, MoI, the Amiri Guard, State Security and Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya).   The national anthem was played at the outset of the ceremony, following which His Highness the Amir inspected a parade of the 112 graduates. His Highness the Amir also honoured the seven outstanding graduates after the recital of verses from the Holy Qur'an as well as the graduates' and military parades. The third batch then handed over the Police College flag to the fourth batch. This was followed a parade by members of the Tomorrow's Officers' contingent. At the end of the ceremony, the officers of the third batch took the oath and performed the College anthem. Police College director-general Brigadier Dr Mohamed Abdullah al-Muhana al-Marri delivered a speech on the occasion welcoming His Highness the Amir and expressing pleasure with his patronage and honouring of the ceremony. He said the new batch of police officers has fulfilled the requirements for a bachelor's degree in Law and Police Sciences. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, HE the Minister of Interior of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, HE the Minister of Interior of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Sameer Ibrahim Al Mobaideen and other dignitaries with the graduates.         While underscoring the college’s endeavours, Brigadier Dr al-Marri said the institution is making continuous efforts by developing academic and training programmes to achieve its mission of graduating highly skilled police officers while enabling them to professionally carry out security tasks and keep pace with the need of the time in terms of behaviour and performance with determination and courage. He stressed this is done while adhering to Arab and Islamic traditions and virtues, and pride in belonging to the homeland and loyalty to His Highness the Amir. Brigadier Dr al-Marri "cited the saying of HH the Amir that human development is one of the most important pillars of Qatar's vision, and the Qatari citizen remains the main focus of concern, by providing the best levels of education that guarantee his advancement and progress", Qatar News Agency added. He stressed the Police College's keenness on providing its students with the latest curricula that keep pace with international standards, including science and knowledge in the policing and legal fields. All Covid-19 precautionary measures were put in place during the ceremony, which saw the participation of the family members of the graduates along with invited dignitaries. A joyous mood prevailed as the graduates were congratulated by their family members, who seemed visibly proud of the achievements of the third batch students.      

Qatar and Belarus are set to take the diplomatic and business ties to higher levels by strengthening co-operation in key areas, Belarus embassy charge d'affaires Denis Kovalev told Gulf Times. The exclusive interview marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Qatar and Belarus on January 16. The two countries hold positive political relations and co-operation in various areas including tourism, business, culture, arts and international security, he said. “Our views on the most important global topics are rather common. Our countries support each other in international organisations. We established good co-operation between the interior ministries and many Qatari officers trained in Belarus," Kovalev explained. The previous years have marked the regular visits of high level delegations from the Belarus Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence for Milipol and Dimdex exhibitions in Qatar. In 2012, Belarus and Qatar exchanged the Days of Culture in Doha and Minsk. Three meetings have been held as part of the Joint Inter Governmental Co-operation with a fourth planned in Minsk. Belarus opened it's embassy in Doha in 2014 while the Qatar embassy started functioning in Minsk in 2019. At present, the embassies are headed by charge d’affaires. “We hope that in future the ambassadors will be appointed,” he said. Kovalev noted that the relations between the two countries developed dynamically over the years and were always based on mutual trust and friendship. In 2001, 2011 and 2016 Belarus president visited Qatar. In 2009, the then Amir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani visited Belarus in 2009. Former Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani visited Belarus five times. These are in addition to several meetings, attended by the official delegations and visits hosted by the two countries. While it comes to sports and culture, the two countries have been exchanging visits for several years. In May 2014, the official delegation of Qatar, led by the then secretary general of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani visited Minsk to participate in the events of the World Hockey Championship. In 2016, the then secretary general of the Committee of winter sports of Qatar Adel al-Mutlaq visited Minsk during the 12th Christmas International Amateur Ice Hockey Tournament. In July 2019, the delegation of Qatar Olympic Committee visited Belarus to take part in the second European Games. In October 2019, the delegation of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus took part in the meeting of General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees in Doha. Kovalev said cultural ties between the two countries are well established. In March 2012, Days of Belarusian Culture were held in Qatar while Days of Culture of Qatar were organised in Belarus. The Qatari delegation was headed by the then Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari. Qatari nationals can visit Belarus without visa for 30 days after an official decree was issued in 2011 while Qatar announced visa free entry for Belarusian citizens in 2017. “These are very important steps in bilateral relations that have given better opportunities for businessmen and tourists to visit Belarus and Qatar helping them know more about the culture and traditions of the two countries,” the diplomat said. The Belarus embassy charge d'affaires Denis expects a boost in bilateral trade. Belarus exports milk whey, dry milk, ready-made seafood products, luggage scanning equipment, potash fertilisers, wood products for construction and other items while Qatar exports ethylene polymers for several millions of dollars annually. Belarus also produces agricultural tractors, trucks for cargo, dump trucks, a wide range of agricultural products, construction materials and chemical products. “We are also the leader in our region in the IT industry. All these give good opportunities for more active development of Belarus-Qatari trade,” he said. At present Qatari investments in Belarus is about $200mn. “In 2015, Qatar opened Marriott Hotel and a sports complex in Minsk. This is one of the best hotels in Belarus capital. We believe that this will pave the way for new Qatari investments in Belarus and our government is ready to support Qatari investors,” he said adding that trade and investment will be priority topics for discussion during the fourth Belarus-Qatar Inter Governmental Committee meeting that will be attended by ministerial delegations. The envoy also expects that the number of Belarus expatriates in Qatar will go up. “Most of the less than 1,000 Belarusian expatriates work in Qatar Airways and the hospitality sector while some of them are engineers. We assess that in future this number will grow, especially with the new Qatari labour legislation which gives more protection for expatriate employees.” While thanking Qatar for its help, Kovalev said Belarus received medical cargo in support to fight Covid-19. “Our country highly appreciates this step and considers this as a true confirmation of friendship and solidarity,” he added.  

* Awareness campaigns yielding results with number of road accidents and fatalities going down in Qatar   Damaging or altering traffic signs can lead to the imposition of steep fines on offenders, it was stressed at a virtual seminar on the country's traffic law Sunday. “Destroying traffic signs or any part of them, shifting them or changing their content, information or direction, damaging them or damaging the road can result in imprisonment of a minimum one month and maximum three years and/or a fine of a minimum QR10,000 and maximum QR50,000,” said Capt Mohamed Abdullah al-Kuwari, officer at the Traffic Awareness Department, General Directorate of Traffic. He was addressing a virtual seminar on Traffic Law No 19/2007 Sunday, organised by the Ministry of Interior (MoI's) Public Relations Department in co-operation with the Traffic Awareness Department at the directorate, as part of a series of awareness programmes. The seminar was attended by representatives of various companies and community leaders. He noted that awareness campaigns were yielding results with the number of road accidents and fatalities going down in Qatar. Accident cases are decreasing despite an increase in the number of vehicles, he added. Capt al-Kuwari, who explained various traffic offences and the fines involved, said no violation would be tolerated and asked motorists to follow the rules and stay alert as most roads are monitored by the directorate through surveillance cameras installed as part of the Talaa project. Accidents have social and psychological impacts and everyone should be careful while driving in order to avert undesirable situations on roads, he said, adding that fines are imposed not to make money but to ensure the safety of all. He also referred to the 'black points' system that was introduced with the aim of preventing accidents and penalising errant drivers. He explained there are provisions in which licences are suspended if the motorist concerned commits serious offences on roads and gets the maximum number of 'black points'. He asked people to abstain from driving non-registered vehicles as well as driving without a valid licence and vehicle registration. Further, Capt al-Kuwari said making changes and altering vehicles without written permission from the authorities is also a violation that results in getting 'black points' and a fine of QR3,000. He urged vehicle owners to inform the authorities if the number plate is damaged and replace it accordingly in order to avoid a fine of QR500. Capt al-Kuwari also gave instructions for driving schools and trainers. He urged drivers to follow the speed limit and properly apply brakes, noting that violations in such cases may cause accidents.    

The ‘Qatar Beautification and Our Kids Planting Trees’ campaign within the ‘Plant Million Trees’ initiative is evoking good response with more students and educational institutions joining. As per the latest figures, released by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the total number of planted trees has reached 367,166. A total of 835 students from 48 schools participated in the initiative. The campaign launched in September 2019 aims to afforest various areas while continuing until the end of 2021. As per the information from Ashghal, the campaign has so far covered various localities within Doha along with areas under Al Khor and Al Thakhira Municipality. Also, campaigns have been held so far at Al Sheehaniya, Al Rayyan, Al Nasraniyya and Al Wakra. Earlier this month, Qatar Museums chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani joined the event and announced the completion of planting 300,000 trees. The Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar is implementing the Qatar Beautification and Our Kids Planting Trees campaign. The committee 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 Authority, Qatar Rail, Private Engineering Office among others. The committee is responsible for five major tasks including the construction of central public parks, provision of dedicated lanes for pedestrians and bicycles, development of the Doha Corniche and Central Doha and increasing afforestation and green areas. The committee’s work will enhance sustainability through minimising environmental pollution and reducing the emission of CO2 through reduced consumption of energy resources. It also focuses on the provision of more public transport options aiming at reduced use of private cars and improving lifestyle through clean and safe transportation. It is also intended to ensure a healthy environment within residential neighbourhoods and places of public gatherings through increased afforestation and landscaping, which will greatly help in reducing the temperature in cities.

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is set to provide a major facelift to Qatar’s public transport sector with its Buildings Projects Department working to set up bus depots and stops in various areas. In co-ordination with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), the department is working on eight main bus stations in West Bay, Msheireb, Industrial Area, Al Soudan, Al Gharafa, Education City, Al Wakra and Lusail while four major bus depots are in the making at Lusail, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area and Al Wakra. Ashghal has informed that works are under way at these places where the said facilities are being designed in accordance with the highest global safety and environment standards, GSAS. The bus depots and stations have important design and operational considerations with three-star environmental quality for energy saving and environmental conservation. The bus depots at Lusail, Al Rayyan, Industrial Area and Al Wakra extend from 129,000sq m to 190,000sq m in size, while the bus stations have an average capacity of accommodating 25 vehicles. According to the information received from Ashghal, the Al Rayyan bus depot will provide a berth for about 380 buses and completed by the beginning of 2022. The depot here also includes a maintenance workshop and cleaning facility. Also, work at the Education City bus station will be completed by the third quarter of 2021. The depot and station will serve Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Also, Ashghal is working on 2,700 bus stops on all major roads to serve thousands of passengers in many areas to use public buses. These bus stops, with air-conditioned cabins, will allow passengers to wait inside in comfort and protect them from direct exposure to sunlight and humidity. Last year, Ashghal signed 11 new contracts worth QR2bn with different Qatari companies for building bus stations and bus depots, as part of the public bus infrastructure programme.

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) through its National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) made several achievements in 2020 while working on raising the efficiency of electrical and water appliances and equipment. Tarsheed helped Qatar reduce carbon emission and bring down water and electricity consumption in all sectors. It made efforts to improve the efficiency of electricity and water use with the aim of achieving efficient gas use and financial savings. While taking steps to reduce harmful carbon emissions and to combat climate change, Tarsheed implemented projects to diversify energy sources and encourage electric vehicles and set up solar photovoltaic systems. Kahramaa is set to operate bus stops in Abu Hamour and Kahramaa Park with renewable energy and looking to encourage farmers and the residential sector to adopt solar energy. Also, Kahramaa set up electric vehicle charging stations across the country as part of its efforts to encourage use of renewable energy. The corporation joined hands with Katara and Qatari Diar and Qatar Children's Museum and installed 50,000 water saving faucet heads in government offices and mosques. Also, steps were taken to recycle ablution water in mosques for cleaning and irrigation. In order to bring down electricity consumption, Tarsheed prepared consumer guides for air conditioning devices and fixed specifications for home lighting. It also asked the public to update specifications of taps to minimise water use. Tarsheed initiatives are being implemented in 22 different schools in the country to reduce electricity and water consumption. Tarsheed was launched to spread information and awareness while encouraging initiatives to reduce daily consumption of water and electricity. Also, it helps Qatar residents to make their homes, workplaces and lifestyles become sustainable, efficient and environmental friendly.

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corp (Kahramaa) marked several achievements in the electricity sector in 2020. According to information received from the corporation, Kahramaa launched 28 electrical stations including 13 stations for the transmission network. These are in addition to 19 underground cable circuits and two antenna lines that are connected to control centres. These centres were set up at a cost of more than QR2.5bn. Kaharmaa strengthened its operations with various projects related to electricity production and distribution with the aim of ensuring the sustainability of its services to be a tributary for growth overcoming the challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic. Kahramaa also launched a project to store electrical energy using batteries. The 11 kv voltage project than connected it to Kahramaa’s Nuaija station. Besides, various stations and transmission lines feeding the metro network were launched while 20 transmission stations were inaugurated. These include the major Al Suwaidi Super Substation, which is the first major substation with a voltage of (132/400) KV at the heart of Doha. The substation serves Al-Sadd, Bin Mahmoud and Fareej Al-Sudan while the electricity requirements of Al Bidda metro station will also be met by the station. The inauguration was attended by Kahramaa officials, engineers, technicians, supervisors and workers. And this came as part of the thirteenth phase of the electricity transmission grids expansion project in the country. The number of the distribution stations reached 856 stations in 2020 in addition to 39 stations that feed 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums. 8,756 preventive maintenance works were carried out while 725 inspection drives were initiated in 2020. 1,462 medium-voltage electrical equipment was repaired and restored while high-voltage switches were replaced for 186 roofed and outdoor stations. 152 old and suspended transformers were replaced. Preventive maintenance was carried out for 629 indoor and outdoor stations, maintenance of 196km of medium and low voltage overhead lines was carried out. Kahramaa succeeded in reducing the number of main stations whose loads exceeded the design capacity during the summer of 2020 by launching 65 strengthening projects. Kahramaa started installing energy meters in all major stations to record added consumptions and they are being installed in 185 stations with a total of 369m. It launched a new system for monitoring network variables establishing a temporary reserve distribution control center for use in emergency conditions. The number of medium voltage faults went down by 1.4% in 2020. The average response time in emergency cases reached 55 minutes while the average repair times reached 1.40 hours marking a significant improvement. Kahramaa manages the electricity networks according to the latest technology applied globally and focuses on delivering them with high quality to all subscribers.