Doha, December 12 (QNA) - HE President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Meer said that the Qatar National Day is a great national occasion through which the Qatari people express their pride in their identity and heritage, renew their loyalty to the wise leadership, and draw inspiration from the legacy of the founder Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Thani, who founded the state on the principles of dignity, sovereignty, and unity.

  Speaking to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency said that the National Day embodies a sense of belonging and loyalty to the homeland and renewing the pledge to continuing on the path of development, in line with the vision of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Eng. Al Meer pointed out that His Highness's words "With You It Rises, From You It Awaits" express the essence of the national vision, which places the Qatari individual at the heart of progress and development.

His Excellency said that the bond between the leadership and the people is firm and deeply rooted, with the National Day serving as an annual occasion to reinforce the values of unity and loyalty, particularly among the youth, and to strengthen pride in Qatar's history and confidence in its future.

He also noted that this occasion is a true indicator of the unity of the people and their rallying around their leadership, in addition to being an expression of gratitude for the sacrifices of the founder and the achievements made by the leaders who followed him, adding that it is a moment of pride and reflection on the journey of a nation that has overcome challenges with determination and resolve.

  Speaking about Ashghal's five-year plan, HE Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Meer revealed projects valued at more than QR 81 billion, including the development of roads, sewage networks, and public buildings, in addition to the strategic outfall project for stormwater drainage in northern and southern Doha, and new public-private partnership projects to develop more than 5,500 residential plots.

His Excellency added that support provided to the contracting sector amounted to about QAR 21 billion through direct payments and measures aimed at accelerating the completion of pending projects, indicating that a new package of projects worth QAR 12 billion has been awarded, comprising 13 contracts for the development of road networks, drainage systems, and public buildings.

He revealed that Ashghal will begin using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and lasers to detect road defects, in addition to introducing robots, drones, and digital twins in the sewage network starting next year.

In the field of public buildings, His Excellency pointed out the awarding of four projects, including the construction of three new schools, the upgrading of safety systems in 40 existing schools, the completion of the development of the psychiatric hospital, and the horse-breeding farm project in Al Zubarah, in addition to a strategic 22-kilometer project to connect Al Mazroua, Al Utouriya, and Boothaila to the expressway network.

Regarding Qatarization, HE Eng. Al Meer pointed out that the authority has achieved over 320 percent growth in the number of Qatari employees over the past eight years, through locally and internationally accredited training programs and external training opportunities that have helped prepare national cadres capable of efficiently leading infrastructure projects.

  On sustainability, His Excellency stressed that Ashghal has adopted extensive initiatives to use local and recycled materials, including recycling more than 4,510 tons of rubber tires in the production of modified bitumen, 1.4 million tons of milled asphalt, and more than 44.3 million tons of backfill and excavation materials for use in new projects.

  He added that over the past four years, Ashghal has completed more than 363,000 square meters of green spaces and 995 kilometers of cycling and pedestrian paths, in addition to implementing advanced networks for the drainage of surface, groundwater, and stormwater, enhancing water-resource sustainability and the state's ability to adapt to climate change.

HE the President of Ashghal affirmed in his remarks to QNA that Ashghal remains committed to supporting the Qatar National Vision 2030, the Third National Development Strategy, and the development of a modern and sustainable infrastructure that reflects the state's aspirations for a more prosperous future. (QNA)