DOHA: The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani has issued a directive to start work on a long-pending proposal to set up three new central markets in Qatar to meet the demands of the fast growing population.
In a crucial meeting with top government officials at Emiri Diwan, the Prime Minister also asked the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning to deal with the proposed workers’ housing projects in the country “ in a new way”. A special committee at the Ministry has been assigned to prepare a comprehensive budget for lands needed for the project in the next five years.
The Ministry recently issued new guidelines for workers’ accommodations in terms of facilities and safety standards.
A proposal to set up three central markets outside Doha was earlier approved by the civic ministry, in response to a long standing demand from citizens. The new markets will be located in Umm Salal Ali, Al Rayyan and Al Wakra, according to earlier reports.
The Central Municipal Council came out with this proposal to address the crowding and shortage of facilities at the sole central market at Abu Hamour in Doha. The council had also decried the delay in implementing the project.
The Prime Minister during the meeting approved the start of the “first agricultural and food gathering” project between the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the Ministry of Environment as well as the fodder projects for food security.
The meeting was intended to follow up on the economic activities in the country and closely monitor projects related to economic development, the Qatar News Agency reported yesterday.
The Prime Minister urged the participants to give utmost importance to completing projects within deadline. He asked them to notify him as early as possible if there are any obstacles or problems hampering the implementation of projects or causing any delay in delivery dates.
The Prime Minister issued directives and decisions on the provision of stores, logistics areas, economic areas and industrial sector, through setting specific dates for the awarding and launching of tenders. Immediate solutions should be found for obstacles that may face those procedures, he told the participants.
He also mandated the Minister of Economy and Commerce to set a promotional plan for economic sectors that should be developed in the state through the private sector. The Ministry was also asked to do a comprehensive assessment of the tourist activity during the coming period with a view to promoting this key sector.
The Prime Minister also entrusted the Minister of Economy and Commerce to draw up a plan to promote the capital and stock exchange markets in the coming period.
The Peninsula
