Preserving environment will be main idea of Qatar National Day (QND) celebrations this year which will be marked under a slogan ‘Ancestral Meadows: A Matter of Trust’.
The National Day Parade will be held at Doha Corniche as usual. Darb Al Saai is being developed at a new place in Umm Salal therefore it has been cancelled for this year.
Many activities, especially those related to educating people about the importance of environment, will be held at different places during QND celebrations. This came in an interaction of media and environmental activists with Head of Qatar National Day Celebration Organising Committee held at Al Wajbah Fort yesterday.
During the meeting, Minister of Culture and Sports, H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, and Head of QND Celebration Organising Committee addressed the media and those concerned about the environment on this year’s QND events and activities.
“Qatar National Day this year will be celebrated under the slogan ‘Ancestral Meadows: A Matter of Trust’. Qatar’s focus on environment is dating back from ancient period. One of the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 is environment,” said H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali.
He said that environment is an integral part of the State of Qatar since last century. “This is our duty today to protect our environment for next generation.” “Darb Al Saai will be held in new place in 2022. The activities of Darb Al Saai were supposed to be held this year but we will not hold them because of COVID-19 pandemic.”
He said that Darb Al Saai is very important for people in Qatar as it as old as a generation. “Because of its importance, we will hold activities of Darb Al Saai in a new shape next year,” said the Minister thanking Private Engineering Office for its contribution in developing the new Darb Al Saai venue.
To a question about National Day Parade, he said it is a key part of QND celebration which is being held always. “The parade will continue at same place, Corniche.”
Director of Events Department at the Qatar Cultural and Heritage Events Centre, Ahmed Al Ajmi, said that national parade is key activity of QND celebrations which will be held on Corniche street. “QND celebration will coincide with Arab Cup. The coordination meeting is being held to prepare a complete plan to hold the activities to celebrate QND,” said Al Ajmi.
Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, who is also Head of QND Celebration Organising Committee, with officials and environmental activists during an interactive meeting on QND events and activities held at Al Wajbah Fort, yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit
He said a permanent venue for Darb Al Saai has been allocated in Umm Salal Mohamad. “I would like to thank Private Engineering Office and Public Works Authority (Ashghal) for building Darb Al Saai,” said Al Ajmi. He said that Darb Al Saai will open in its new headquarters next year with excellent activities.
“All segments of society will participate in QND celebration. The details of the events and activities of QND celebration will be released in coming weeks,” said Al Ajmi.
Director of Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) Abdullah Mohammed Al Falasi said that the slogan of QND celebrations for this year is connected to environment and importance to protect it.
“We at the MME launched a number of initiatives to protect the environment such as Plant Million Tree urging people to participate in the initiative,” said Al Falasi.
He said the Ministry is running over 50 initiatives encouraging people to take part in the activities to preserve the environment.
Director of the Friends of the Environment Center Farhoud Al Hajri said that the center in cooperation with QND organising committee is about to launch ‘Tahaddi’, an environment initiative.
He said that the initiative aims at creating awareness about the importance of preserving environment with the support of environmental activists.“Thanks to the Ministry of Municipality and Environment for enacting necessary laws to protect the environment but we have to approach to the community through individual and collective initiatives,” said Al Hajri.
He said that there will be two types of initiatives – collective initiative for community and other one for school students.
“Now we are preparing to launch the initiatives in coming period,” said Al Hajri.