Qatari Newspapers Editorials

Doha, January 02 (QNA) - Qatari newspapers on Monday covered a range of topics, highlighting the State of Qatar's success in its National Food Security Strategy 2018-2023 and the great importance that the country attaches to food security, and the activation of part-time work application service for government agency employees, which reflects the State's keenness to take into consideration the circumstances and obligations of the employees. Internationally, the Qatari dailies underlined that terrorism remains one of the most prominent challenges facing the world as it threatens international peace and security and impedes the achievement of sustainable development, stressing that the State of Qatar spares no effort in actively participating in international and regional efforts to address this phenomenon and its root causes. English newspaper The Peninsula noted the success of the first National Food Security Strategy 2018-23 in meeting its goals by remarkably increasing Qatar’s self-sufficiency rate in fresh food, including vegetables, dairy, poultry, meat, and fish. In its editorial titled "A big leap in food security," the newspaper said that Qatar attaches great importance to food security by boosting local production, creating strategic food stocks, and diversifying the import of food commodities. Now the Food Security Department of the Ministry of Municipality has started work on developing the second National Food Security Strategy 2023-2030. The country made remarkable progress in self-sufficiency in fresh foods production, including vegetables, livestock, and fish in 2022. The self-sufficiency rate in the production of local vegetables increased from about 20 percent in 2017 to about 46 percent in 2022, an increase of about 130 percent. The self-sufficiency in milk and its products increased from only 28 percent in 2017 to 100 percent in 2022. The self-sufficiency in the production of fresh broiler chicken also increased from 50 percent in 2017 to 100 percent in 2022, and table eggs from 14 percent in 2017 to 36 percent in 2022, with an increase of more than 157 percent. The self-sufficiency rate in red meat increased from 13 percent in 2017 to reach about 18 percent, the paper indicated. The Peninsula concluded its editorial by pointing out that the food security strategy aims to stabilize the self-sufficiency rate of both dairy and fresh broiler chicken at 100 percent and raise the self-sufficiency rate for eggs to 70 percent and red meat to 30 percent by 2023. Al-Raya newspaper said in its editorial that the State of Qatar always seeks to preserve a cohesive and strong Qatari family, as it is the basic building block in forming and fortifying the society, and the first line of defense in combating social issues. For this end, the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau announced the activation of the part-time work request service in the "Mawared" system, in accordance with Cabinet Resolution No. 13 of 2021 regarding conditions and regulations for part-time government agencies, stemming from the State’s keenness to take into consideration the circumstances of employees who have obligations that require them to work part-time. The part-time system in government institutions, which is defined with clear conditions and controls, is based on the State's plans to maintain a strong, stable family that enjoys support and care, and to improve job efficiency by providing more flexible options for Qatari employees that take into account their circumstances and needs, in particular, their family circumstances, the paper noted. The system provides Qatari women greater opportunities to achieve a balance between family and work, as Qatar believes that the key to comprehensive development and the foundation of renaissance stems from the family, the first building block of society, Al-Raya explained. This pioneering decision will achieve great benefits to families, provide more flexible options for the employee, and contribute to improving mental and physical health by reducing stress and tension, which in turn would reflect positively on job efficiency as well as the Qatari society, the paper stressed. Qatari daily Al-Sharq highlighted in its Monday's editorial the challenges of confronting terrorism, saying that terrorism remains one of the most prominent challenges facing the world because of the real threat it poses to international peace and security and the achievement of sustainable development. Al-Sharq noted the reoccurrence of terrorist attacks almost on daily basis in every part of the world, the latest of which was the attack on Saturday that targeted a security checkpoint in the city of the Egyptian of Ismailia, leaving deaths and injuries evening, and the bombing that took place in front of the military airport in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing 18 people. The paper underlined that these events emphasize the need for continued joint action and international efforts to combat violent extremism. In this context, Al-Sharq pointed out that the State of Qatar spares no effort in actively participating in the international and regional efforts to address this phenomenon and its root causes, stemming from its firm position rejecting violence and terrorism, whatever the motives and reasons. The paper noted some of Qatar's efforts in this regard, most importantly supporting the provision of education for millions of children, youth and women; creating job opportunities for young people; continuously promoting its strategic partnership with relevant United Nations agencies, such as the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism; the launch of the UNOCT International Hub on Behavioral Insights to Counter Terrorism in Doha; and the partnership agreement between Silatech and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) with the aim of building capacities and launching projects in the Arab region aimed at preventing terrorism. The State of Qatar believes that all people of the world are one family facing a common destiny, and that cooperation and joint action are inevitable to address global challenges. Therefore, combating terrorism is among its utmost priorities, Al-Sharq concluded. On the other hand, Qatari daily Al-Watan noted Qatar's continued assistance to the Syrian people through its charitable and humanitarian organizations, as it carries upon itself the responsibility of supporting the Syrian people to alleviate their suffering amidst the difficult circumstances they have been going through. In this context, Al-Watan noted that Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is monitoring Phase 2 of the World Health Organization's (WHO) COVID-19 vaccination campaign in northern Syria, as part of the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Being executed by the WHO Syria Vaccination Team, the campaign is going on in Aleppo countryside, Idlib, and its countryside. Through 50 vaccination stations and over 100 mobile teams across all target regions, it involves giving Johnson & Johnson and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines to health and humanitarian professionals, as well as the public who are 18+ years of age, the paper explained. Qatar is keen on supporting all efforts that would help the Syrian people in various fields. The humanitarian assistance provided by Qatar includes all needs, and all Syrians, without discrimination or politicization. The State has played a major role in alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people, and it is continuing on this path to effectively contribute to easing the difficult ordeal they have been experiencing, Al-Watan concluded. (QNA)