DOHA, 3 May 2005 — Qatar’s infrastructure development is to get a major boost with the government allocating 25 billion Qatari riyals for several public service projects in the next five years.
The outlay is “the single biggest budget allocation in the history of Qatar”, senior officials of the newly-established Public Works Authority told a specially convened meeting of representatives of government departments, private contractors and consultants.
The five-year plan covers 32 roads, 19 buildings, six drainage works, a hospital, a harbor and two jetties. Among the projects, priority will be given to those related to the 15th Asian Games which are scheduled to be held in Doha in December next year, an official told Arab News.
The government set up the Public Works Authority, also known as Ashghal, last year to be in charge of infrastructure development as Qatar’s economy is witnessing a major expansion fueled by its huge natural gas deposits. The state is aiming to be the largest liquid natural gas (LNG) supplier in the world by 2012.
But the huge growth in economy has spurred a rise in expatriate population with the state’s public service sector coming under increasing pressure. The newly-created authority is devising a strategy to develop the country’s infrastructure to meet the additional requirements. Of the 25 billion Qatari-riyal outlay, 13 billion will be spent on road projects, officials said.