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The strategy of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to provide sustainable and ecofriendly transportation with lesser emissions is in full gear while implementing multiple initiatives. A post by MoT on X, on the occasion of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, on Saturday highlighted its strategy to ensure less emission and sustainability in the transportation sector. MoT said this is one of the top goals of its action plans now and well into the future.Qatar, represented by MoT, has made remarkable strides in electrifying public transportation to implement a zero-emission transition in transportation. Electrified public buses in Qatar reached 73% in the first quarter of 2024 while the plan to reach a 100% electric public bus fleet by 2030 is on track. These are part of MoT’s efforts to achieve zero emission transition in transportation in step with Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy.Also, MoT is planning big to ensure the standards of electric vehicles (EVs) intensifying Qatar’s race to be a major regional hub in Mena in this regard. MoT earlier announced plans to set up a centre specialised in inspecting and testing how far EV specifications conform and comply with those approved in Qatar as well as releasing their certifications.One of the key areas of the Transportation Master Plan for Qatar 2050 (TMPQ) is lowering carbon emissions. The plan aims to preserve the environment while integrating various elements including improving the inter-connectivity of public transport, enhancing road safety and reducing congestion to be a true legacy for generations to come. One of the plan’s deliverables is to ensure minimal environmental and climate impact.The ministry has also launched the Autonomous Vehicles Strategy to regulate the terms and conditions of using such vehicles in Qatar aiming to provide smart, and environmentally conscious transit systems. This enhances Qatar’s global position in terms of adopting e-mobility, supporting innovation, and keeping pace with ecofriendly mobility industry advancements.

The Organising Committee of ConteQ Expo 2024 has unveiled the new ConteQ Expo B2B Matchmaking Tool and mobile app.The innovative platform will facilitate connections between the event participants, allowing them to schedule meetings in advance, access interactive floorplans and interact directly with exhibitors and speakers in addition to various benefits.A ceremony yesterday marked the launch of the media lounge which will be powered by Media City Qatar while providing a cutting-edge environment for media professionals and innovators.Kholoud Yousuf al-Saai, the head of Events Management, said that Media City Qatar is dedicated to nurturing innovation and creativity within Qatar’s media and technology sectors through its partnership with ConteQ Expo 2024.Media City Qatar offers a dynamic environment for media and technology companies, leveraging Qatar’s stable economy and exceptional global connectivity.The committee also unveiled the Mascot of ConteQ Expo24 and the schools that won the Official Mascot Design Competition, launched in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

The ConteQ Expo 2024 will see the participation of more than 60 speakers and 250 exhibitors and partners with the attendance of global tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Siemens, Huawei, and IBM. The exhibition is expected to attract more than 15,000 visitors.This was announced in a press conference, held on Thursday. ConteQ Expo 2024 will take place during September 16-18 at Qatar National Convention Centre.The innovative exhibition is a result of collaborative efforts of 4 esteemed Qatari governmental entities: The Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI), the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT), the Ministry of Labour (MOL), and the Public Works Authority 'Ashghal’.

In time for the reopening of schools across Qatar Sunday, the General Directorate of Traffic, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and Mowasalat (Karwa) have put in place multiple measures to ensure the safe and smooth transport of students.These include the integrated traffic plan by the General Directorate of Traffic, safety measures on the roads by Ashghal and deploying eco-friendly buses by Karwa to transport the students. The government and private schools across the country will welcome a total of 378,134 students.As part of its continuous efforts to reduce traffic accidents and achieve road safety, the directorate has chalked out a comprehensive plan to facilitate the movement of vehicles and reduce congestion on main roads around schools. Patrols and traffic police will be increased with a focus on intersections and around schools that are prone to congestion.Lt Abdulmohsin al-Asmar al-Ruwaili, traffic media officer at the General Directorate of Traffic, earlier told Qatar News Agency that the department had prepared an integrated plan to control traffic flow during the school year.Ashghal has completed school zone safety measures around 611 schools across Qatar as part of its School Zone Safety Programme. These include the construction and enhancement of roads while adhering to stringent safety protocols.Directional signs, reflective road studs as well as interlocks, kerbs and pedestrian railing are in place near and around schools in addition to road and crosswalk markings, aiming to enhance pedestrian visibility in school zones and adjacent areas and enforcement of a 30 kph speed limit.The General Directorate of Traffic and Ashghal carried out several awareness initiatives to target students, parents, school bus drivers and staff ahead of the beginning of the new academic year.Mowasalat (Karwa) has deployed 3,000 eco-friendly school buses to transport students. Strategy Management Office director Mohamed Ahmed M K Abukhadija told Qatar TV that these buses are equipped with the latest safety and security technology.

The General Directorate of Traffic has warned of the legal consequences of capturing accident photos by unauthorised persons. While talking to Qatar TV, Capt Khalid Abdullah al-Kuwari, Traffic Investigation Officer at the General Traffic Department, said capturing pictures is subject to imprisonment and a fine.Article 333 of the Penal Code stipulates that a person who illegally intrudes into another person’s private life and without their consent shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years in prison and/or a fine not exceeding QR10,000.“The law allows people who cause a traffic accident to photograph and upload on Metrash 2 to prove and record the accident,” he clarified.Capt al-Kuwari explained that filming an accident with good intentions to raise awareness may expose people to legal accountability because there may be harm to the victims due to injuries or deaths.“There are organisations specialised in awareness, such as the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior and the Traffic Awareness and Safety Department of the General Directorate of Traffic,” he said.Capt al-Kuwari noted there is no need to photograph people even when reporting a traffic violation via Metrash. "It’s enough to photograph the license plate and the damage to the car, and then the traffic investigation investigators will communicate with the reporting persons to find out the causes of the accident,” he added.

"When she grows up I will tell my girl the warming tale of unmatched compassion that Qatar showed to save her life," Risal Rasheed turned ecstatic while expressing his gratitude to the gathering Wednesday at the Integrated Indian Community Centre to mark the successful wrap of fundraising for the treatment of Indian baby Malkah Rouhi.“Hundreds stepped in to realise the mission and raised the amount that was beyond my family’s reach,” Risal said thanking the organisations, institutions and individuals who took part in the fundraising for Malkha. The Indian baby has been prescribed a gene replacement therapy and certain expensive drugs to treat Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).In April, Qatar Charity (QC) launched a drive and set a goal of QR11.65mn for the treatment. The drive was wrapped up on Tuesday following QC recording an overwhelming response from benefactors and accomplishing the desired goal.With the active participation of more than 50 organisations, corporate and education institutions and individuals, the four-month drive envisaged a spectacular spirit of compassion. QC recorded more than 18,000 donors while thousands donated through the drives initiated by organisations and institutions. Many organisations contributed through fundraising events that included a Biriyani Challenge that marked the participation of thousands while some institutions donated salaries.“The credit goes to the joint efforts. We thank and appreciate the high morale that the organisations and the kindness the institutions showcased,” said Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) secretary Mohamed Kunhi TK while addressing the gathering.“Small donations and even the little acts of kindness have made a big impact. Indian organisations and companies did their bit for the cause and to accomplish the mission which seemed to be undoable initially. We appreciate everyone for the efforts to support the vital cause,” ICBF president Shanavas Bava told Gulf Times.Daughter of Risal Abdul Rasheed and Nihala Nizam, nine-month-old Malkha is now undergoing treatment at Sidra Medicine. It’s learnt that the process to make the medicines available is on. Qatar Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre state president Dr Abdul Samad, ICBF general secretary Varkey Boban and representatives of various organisations were present on the occasion.

After evoking overwhelming response from benefactors and accomplishing the desired goal, Qatar Charity (QC) has wrapped up its fundraising drive for the treatment of nine-month-old Malkha Rouhi.Malkha, an Indian national, has been diagnosed with Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), an inherited disease that affects nerves and muscles, causing muscles to become increasingly weak.Type 1 SMA is severe and causes respiratory muscle weakness and respiratory failure.Doctors have suggested a gene replacement therapy and certain drugs.Daughter of Risal Abdul Rasheed and Nihala Nizam, Malkha is undergoing treatment at Sidra Medicine.Rasheed, who expressed his gratitude to the supporters, said that Sidra has started the treatment procedures and expressed his hope that everything will pan out as planned.The QC had made appeals for donations towards the treatment of Malkha.The goal was to raise QR11.65mn.A meeting of Indian community organisations and institutions across Qatar launched a slew of measures to support the QC initiative to help Malkha.“Our collective efforts have yielded the results. The participation of organisations, institutions and individuals is commendable and unforeseen. We thank everyone for everything,” Indian Community Benevolent Forum secretary Mohamed Kunhi TK said, adding that hundreds of organisations turned up to support the initiative.Many organisations contributed through fundraising events that included a Biriyani Challenge, while some institutions donated salaries.

While cycling is becoming increasingly popular across Qatar, indicative of health awareness and sustainability consciousness, many among the public are worried about the dangers posed by irresponsible cyclists. “Some errant cyclists are causing trouble on roads by way of reckless riding and without adhering to the safety norms such as wearing helmets, reflective vests and lights on the bicycles,” an Al Wakra resident told *Gulf Times. Time and again the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued advisories urging bicycle riders to use the dedicated cycle path and ride on the right side of the road to avoid accidents and injuries. The MoI has urged cyclists to wear helmets to protect them in case of accidents. “Always ride on the right side of the road. If there are more riders, don’t ride in parallel but one after another,” the latest MoI advisory reads. “If there is a cycle path, stick to it and don’t use motorways or pedestrian ways. “Stick the reflectors on the front and back sides and on the tyres for clear visibility of other road users,” the advisory continues. “Wear a reflective or light coloured dress or safety triangle, especially at night time to make the rider visible to others.” “Avoid busy and speedy roadways as it’s dangerous. Don’t play with bicycles on public roads, such as riding on a single tyre.” "Don’t catch other cycles or vehicles or carry any items in a way that threatens the rider’s safety and others as well. Take care of parked cars as someone will be opening their doors or taking them out of the parked area.” "Use adequate lights in the front and backside of the cycles, bells or horns for alerting others in case of imminent danger. Always hold the cycle handle with both hands except in case hand signs are made to communicate with other road users. Don’t make any bicycle race without prior permission from concerned authority,” the advisory adds. Some cyclists are seen riding on the wrong track and wrong direction. At traffic signals, some ignore the red light and cycle on. “The worst thing about some cyclists is that they choose to ride on the wrong tracks on roundabouts, leaving motorists confused about the direction they are heading,” the Al Wakra resident. “The bicycles have no signals,” he added. “It’s hard to comprehend whether the cyclists plan to turn to the left or right, or go straight at roundabouts and exits.” He added that some of the bicycles don’t have rearview mirrors, and some cyclists can be seen using their mobile phones while riding.

Mobility will be one of the key topics of Milipol Qatar 2024 where the importance of embracing new technologies in the sector will be discussed. According to the Milipol 2024 website, the global event will cover light vehicles, heavy vehicles, motorbikes, quad bikes, aeroplanes and helicopters and the means of sea and river travel. This is while showcasing the trends and innovations in the mobility sector.Also, transport security, port and airport security, border control and road safety are on the list. “Milipol Qatar 2024 features in a single location all the know-how and technologies in the field of global security to better reflect the current trends of the security and safety industry,” the website says.The global event will discuss challenges and trends in the safety and security sectors. Also, security convergence, integrating physical and cyber security in the protection of critical infrastructures while shedding light on integrated technologies for smart and safe cities and forensics science for investigation.The 15th edition of Milipol Qatar 2024 will be held from October 29-31 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. Themed “the technology in the service of security”, the latest edition promises to be a pivotal gathering for industry leaders, policymakers and experts from around the globe.Organised by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with Comexposium Security, representing the GIE Milipol under Civipol, the co-operation implementer of the French Ministry of the Interior and Overseas, the event plays a crucial role in addressing Qatar’s growing security needs and supports the security goals outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030.This year’s event will feature exhibitors from across the world showcasing cutting-edge innovations in security, safety, detection and prevention equipment and systems. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of products and services designed to address contemporary security challenges. From advanced surveillance systems to state-of-the-art detection technologies, the show will present the latest solutions to ensure public safety and protect critical infrastructure.

Despite repeated warning and advice, some e-bike users flout safety norms posing serious safety risks and inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists. While e-scooters and e-bikes have become popular in and around Doha and most of the users ride safely, the errant few are causing concern.The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued a set of rules and regulations for e-scooter riders, urging to abide by them to avert accidents. “Use a dedicated cycle path. Always ride on the right side of the road. Wear a helmet and reflective cloth. Use fixed front and rear lights,” a MoI advisory says while adding that following traffic rules while riding bicycles helps prevent traffic accidents and contributes to achieving safety and security standards.“Apart from the directions from the authorities, many groups are actively involved in raising awareness. Unfortunately, these are ignored by some riders. They use mobile phones while riding and don’t wear proper helmets. Also, heavy objects are carried on the scooters in violation of the rules,” a Doha resident told Gulf Times.“Many tend to ride on the wrong path and direction without lights or reflective clothes. The case is worst on the inner roads where the speedy riders cause difficulties. The grim scenario leaves vehicle drivers panicking sometimes and causes inconveniences for pedestrians,” he added.Earlier, First Lt Hamad Salem al-Nahab, Awareness Officer at the General Directorate of Traffic, urged riders not to carry other people or heavy objects that may cause an imbalance in the electric scooter. “Don’t ride in groups or close distances between other scooters. This is to avoid accidents,” the MoI official said while talking to Al Rayyan TV. He also called for adhering to the guidelines and urged not to use the pedestrian paths in public places. “Ensure the safety and readiness of the scooter, in terms of tires, chassis, brakes, and lighting in the front and back,” he said.As per the rules, if an e-scooter rider causes an accident, the rider is responsible for the damages to the second party. Hamad Medical Corporation has also found a number of accidents involving e-scooters and advised the public to ride in a safe manner.

QNB Group will be the official bank of ConteQ Expo24 and Aguas de Valencia and Traffic Tech (Gulf) the silver sponsors, it was announced Monday at a signing in ceremony at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) headquarters.ConteQ Expo will be held from September 16-18 at Qatar National Convention Centre under the patronage of the HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani.At the signing ceremony, engineer Salem al-Shawi, chairman of ConteQ Expo24 organising committee and Technical Office manager at the Ashghal, welcomed QNB Group, Aguas De Valencia and TrafficTech as the partners and sponsors.“The partnership reflects the contributions of companies in the construction sector by providing innovative financing solutions for projects and showcasing experiences in various areas of technology and latest practices in enhancing productivity, reducing costs and unskilled labour,” he said.Heba Ali al-Tamimi, senior executive vice president, QNB Group Communication, said in a statement that QNB is pleased to be the official bank of ConteQ Expo 2024 noting that the event brings together industry leaders, professionals and innovators to discuss sustainable construction best practices."This participation will provide the bank with the opportunity to showcase innovative financing solutions for projects, supporting the exhibition's objectives of technological transformation and building sustainability in the construction and service sectors.“QNB, the largest financial institution in Mena, is among the first financial institutions to support the Qatari economy, especially in the field of financing major projects and supporting economic development, as part of Qatar National Vision 2030."Enrique Fernandez Martos, Middle East director from Aguas de Valencia, said: "The sponsorship aligns with our commitment to pioneering innovations and technologies in water cycle management.” Aguas de Valencia is the leading Spanish utilities company that expanded its operations to Qatar focusing on water management and infrastructure development.Abdel Al Rahman al-Khatib, CEO of Traffic Tech (Gulf), said: “This event is a testament to our shared commitment to delivering tangible value to the community.”ConteQ Expo is hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and Ashghal. The event is organised by NeXTfairs for conferences & Exhibitions.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has reminded the public to avail the grace period announced by the General Directorate of Traffic to pay fines.“Qatari citizens, residents, visitors and citizens of Gulf Co-operation Council countries are eligible for a 50% discount on traffic violation fines,” MoI said in a X post yesterday.The grace period that started on June 1, 2024, will expire on August 31, 2024. The discount applies to violations recorded within a period not exceeding three years.In June, MoI announced that traffic law violators can’t leave Qatar through any borders from September 1 without paying fines and dues. The vehicles with pending fines and dues will not be allowed to cross land, air and sea borders. The fines and dues can be paid through the Metrash2 app, MoI website, traffic offices or unified service centres. These were announced as part of a set of new traffic rules and procedures by the General Director of Traffic.According to the new rules, a permit must be obtained from the General Directorate of Traffic for mechanical vehicles to exit Qatar as per the prescribed form and the following conditions: The vehicle must not have any outstanding traffic violations; the final destination (point of arrival) for the mechanical vehicle must be specified; the applicant for the permit must be the owner of the vehicle or present proof of the owner’s consent for the vehicle to exit the country.

Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) Qatar is set to raise QR1mn to support the treatment of Indian baby Malkha Rouhi, under the aegis of Qatar Charity (QC), through multiple drives.“Our efforts are triumphing and the fund is about to reach QR800,000,” KMCC state secretary Mohamed Sadik told Gulf Times, exuding confidence in achieving the goal soon.Malkha has been diagnosed with Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a genetic disorder that affects nerves and muscles, causing muscles to become increasingly weak.Daughter of Risal Abdul Rasheed and Nihala Nizam, Malkha is undergoing treatment at Sidra Medicine. Doctors have suggested a gene replacement therapy and certain drugs which, according to Rasheed, are expensive and beyond the family’s reach.KMCC’s two phased Biriyani Challenge initiative reached around 14,000 benefactors across Qatar while amassing around QR170,000. Many benefactors also contributed money to QC upon the request made by the organisation."The Biriyani Challenge evoked a good response with thousands of kindhearted persons making orders. Everything panned out as planned with enthusiastic volunteers tirelessly working to help the ailing girl,” Sadik said.Around 400 volunteers, comprising professionals, businessmen and drivers, worked for the successful implementation of the drive, distributing biriyani orders across the country.Sadik said the collected money is being handed over to QC under the supervision of a dedicated KMCC team.The fundraising for Malkha is ongoing with organisations, individuals and institutions extending a helping hand. On its website, the QC has set a goal of QR11,654,028.75 with case number 206863 under licence: LC2023QTCH07-000032.According to the latest figures on its website, QC has received a contribution of QR6,752,666.78 while reaching 58% of the total amount from 12,707 donors. Contributions can be made through the official website www.qch.qa/Malkha.

Mowasalat (Karwa) has opened its new permanent kiosk at Doha Festival City, offering a seamless experience of multiple services. The second such kiosk by Karwa provides guidance for Karwa Public Transport, Karwa Taxi, Doha Limousine, and Karwa Academy services.On the sidelines of the opening on Thursday, Karwa Academy director Faisal al-Nuaimi told Gulf Times that the new kiosk reflects Karwa’s commitment to reaching out to the public while providing hassle-free services.“This is part of Karwa’s endeavours and strategic approach to connect with the public directly and engage with them more effectively. We are trying to increase the accessibility to Karwa services. People can come and get to know about our services directly instead of checking our website and going to our institutions,” al-Nuaimi said.At the kiosk, the services of Karwa’s public transportation and taxi services can be booked whereas the learners can book their slots to join the Karwa Academy for training. “They need no more to go to our academy or offices to avail or query about our services,” al-Nuaimi said.In 2023, Karwa launched its first kiosk at Villaggio Mall. Al-Nuaimi explained that the new kiosk is based on the good response the company is receiving from its first kiosk. Al-Nuaimi said two more kiosks will soon open at LuLu Hypermarket D Ring Road Branch and City Center Doha.

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is implementing 33 projects to serve 30,000 plots of citizens’ subdivisions through its Local Areas Infrastructure Programme across Qatar. Eng. Mohammed Al-Yafei, project engineer in the Southern Areas Section in Ashghal’s Roads Projects Department, told Qatar TV that several projects are being implemented in South along with West Semaisma, West Umm Salal, South Umm Al Amad and Umm Ubairiya Village. “The projects at North and East Al Kheesa, Al Ebb, Al Obeib, Umm Salal Mohammed and West Al Rakiya are witnessing progress,” he said adding that several packages of road projects have been completed in various areas of the country to serve 5,150 residential plots for citizens. These include the Roads and Infrastructure Development projects at East Al Wajba project (package 1), West Semaisma project (package 1), Al Ebb and Leabaib (package 1 and package 5) and West Muaither project (package 2). The projects, according to al-Yafie, led to development in these areas.Ashghal’s Local Areas Infrastructure Programme is a nationwide programme that aims to develop the roads, drainage networks and overall infrastructure in all areas of Qatar to raise the standard of living for all citizens and residents. The programme provides a comprehensive infrastructure for new areas that lack infrastructure facilities, in addition to developing and enhancing the existing infrastructure in central and suburban areas. It also aims to increase the capacity of roads and utility services to meet the requirements of continuous urban development. This is in addition to the construction of link roads that connect villages and towns across the country.The Local Areas Infrastructure Programme is dynamic as projects are added, expanded or merged to meet the requirements of the planning entities and the continuous development across the country.In May, Ashghal announced that it completed infrastructure services for 7,833 plots of citizens’ subdivisions in various areas in the North, West and South of Qatar. An advanced road network and integrated infrastructure were provided for these subdivisions through several projects to serve the needs of residents and contribute to improving the quality of life, health and environmental conditions in various areas of the country, in line with the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

In the wake of the fire outbreak at Al Abraj Area in West Bay, the Civil Defence authorities have urged owners of high-rise buildings, towers and residences to ensure the safety equipment is properly functioning.“To avoid similar fire incidents in the future, owners should ensure the functionality of alarm and firefighting systems, security and safety systems throughout the building. Their validity should be tested on an ongoing basis,” director of Operations at the General Directorate of Civil Defence Lt. Col. Abdullah Mohamed al-Hail told Qatar TV in a telephonic interview on Sunday.He said that rescue operations were successfully carried out to contain the fire without any casualties with coordination from various entities.“The emergency services at the National Command Center received a report of a fire at 3:22 pm and the fire force moved to deal with the fire that extended from the building’s exterior facade and reached its roof. Work was done to evacuate the building of its residents, as the teams present were divided into three teams for evacuation, rescue and firefighting, and the fire was controlled in a short time without any injuries. The means and mechanisms were used to control the fire. The Civil Defense team arrived with the participation of the security departments, including the departments of Al Fazaa, Traffic, Criminal Investigation and Ambulance along with other concerned departments in addition to the Search and Rescue team from the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) and the Ministry of Municipality,” al-Hail explained.A fire erupted at Umm Bab Tower in West Bay on Sunday afternoon.

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has said Uber, Karwa Technologies, Drive, badrgo, Aber and Zoom Ride are the electronic applications that are licensed and permitted in Qatar to do the business of passenger transportation. MoT, in a post on its official X account, said legal action will be taken against violating companies.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has launched new services at its Qatar Visa Centres (QVC), currently operational in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka."Medical services for temporary work visas, medical test services for multiple entry work visit visas and vision test services for driving license applicants are available now," Major Nasser Ali al-Khalaf, director of the Visa Support Services (VSS) Department, said.He was addressing on Wednesday an introductory seminar on new QVC services at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Passports at Wadi Al Banat."The procedures at QVC enable job seekers to complete the most important part of the visa process while they are in their country. These are in addition to reducing effort and time for them and facilitating the issuance of residency upon their entry into the country.At QVC, people wishing to work in Qatar must register their biometric data, sign employment contracts and undergo medical examinations,” al-Khalaf said.Under the temporary work visa, the applicant is given a single entry and can stay up to 12 months based on the duration of the contract. The multiple entry work visit visas provide multiple entries with a stay period of up to 12 months based on the duration of the contract.“In the context of QVCs’ operation, coordination has been established with relevant authorities (General Directorate of Traffic, Information Systems Department, and service providers) to electronically link external vision testing centres with the General Directorate of Traffic and driving schools and institutes."This facilitates the transmission of vision test data conducted for license applicants at QVCs to the systems of the General Directorate of Traffic, driving schools, and institutes. So, applicants (for the post of drivers) do not need to undergo vision tests again in Qatar,” the MoI official explained.New QVCs in three countries plannedEfforts are underway to establish new Qatar Visa Centres (QVCs) in Kenya, Indonesia and Tunisia in coordination with the authorities concerned, Maj Nasser Ali al-Khalaf, director of the Visa Support Services (VSS) Department, said.QVCs are currently operational in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi); Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi); Bangladesh (Dhaka, Sylhet); Nepal (Kathmandu); Philippines (Manila); and Sri Lanka (Colombo).Currently, applicants are able to avail of services such as attestation, contract signing, biometric enrollment and medical checkup at QVCs. Apart from English and Arabic, QVCs provide applicants with services in local languages.