BUSINESSBU | 14 SPORT | 16 Chevron Champions to buy Al Sadd aim Anadarko for to finish with $33bn a flourish Saturday 13 April 2019 | 8 Sha'baan 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 7860 | 2 Riyals partners & 80+ privileges Qatar Farms Program Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs meets French FM helps sell over 4,000 tonnes of vegetables SANAULLAH ATAULLAH Another initiative of the THE PENINSULA Ministry of Municipality and The Director of Agriculture Affairs Environment, ‘Premium Department at the Ministry of Munici- Qatar Farms Program’ is also pality and Environment (MME), Yusuf running parallel at major Khalid Al Khulaifi, has said that ‘Qatar commercial outlets which Farms Program’ has emerged as the largest platform for marketing local vege- offers certified premium tables by selling over 4,000 tonnes of local vegetables in boxes. vegetables in the last five months. The Ministry of Municipality and Envi- ronment in cooperation with the Ministry that program ran during March and April of Commerce and Industry had launched 2018 on experimental basis and was the program last year. implemented in December 2018. He said “Under the initiative, fresh vegetables that the study period includes March, April from 140 local farms are being showcased and December 2018 and January, Feb- at a number of major commercial outlets ruary 2019. like Lulu Hypermarkets, Family Food Premium quality local vegetables Center (FFC), Carrefour among many also attracted big number of customers. more,” Yusuf Khalid Al Khulaifi told The Under ‘Premium Qatar Farms Program’ Peninsula at a recent event. over 3,740 tonnes of premium quality Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, met in Paris He said that another initiative of the vegetables were sold out at the outlets with the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Jean-Yves Le Drian. They discussed bilateral Ministry of Municipality and Environment, from December 2016 to February 2019, relations and means of supporting and developing them, in addition to a number of topics of mutual interest. They ‘Premium Qatar Farms Program’ is also according to a data released by the Min- also discussed the Declaration of Intent on the establishment of a strategic dialogue between the two countries running parallel at major commercial istry of Municipality and Environment. signed in February that includes defence & security, health, education, culture, sports, economy & investment and the outlets which offers certified premium Both the programs enable local farms fight against terrorism and extremism. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also met President local vegetables in boxes. to supply their produce to commercial of the Senate of the French Republic, Gerard Larcher, and a number of members of the Senate. Al Khulaifi said that under Qatar outlets without middlemen. The initia- Farms Program the vegetables are being tives aim at proving reasonable prices to showcased in loose form giving option to local farmers for their investments and the customers to buy as much as they handwork by offering farm fresh vege- want. tables to the customers at competitive “Qatar Farms Program helped market prices. The good yield also encourages Head of Sudan's Military a total of 4,750 tonnes of local vegetables local farms to increase their products. since its launch last year,” he said, adding The winter vegetable markets also attracted huge cus- Transition Council resigns tomers. A total of 128 farms are showcasing QNA & ANATOLIA the armed forces. threatened,” Abdelsalam said. “We call fresh vegetables at the DOHA/KHARTOUM Meanwhile, a two-year transitional on our partners in the international markets operating Al period planned by the Sudanese military community to support peaceful tran- Mazrouah, Al Khor-Al The head of Sudan's Military Tran- following its removal of longtime Pres- sition in the country in a way that Dakhira, Al Wakra, Al sition Council, General Awad ident Omar Hassan Al Bashir could be would help open the path to stability Shamal during Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf, has shortened, Sudan’s UN charge d’affairs and prosperity.” weekend from announced his resignation and the said yesterday. The Sudanese military on Thursday Thursday to Saturday. appointment of Lieutenant General Yasir Abdelsalam did not elab- announced the removal of al-Bashir, The Ministry of Abdel Fattah Adelrahman Burhan, orate on what conditions would who has ruled Sudan since 1989, fol- Municipality and Envi- according to Sudan News Agency. facilitate the easing of the military’s lowing months of popular protests ronment organises General Awad Ibn Auf was quoted timeframe while addressing against his rule. various festival like yesterday as saying: "I, the head of the reporters at the UN’s New York It also announced the imposition of flower, honey, dates, Military Council, announce I am giving headquarters after a Security a two-year transitional phase to be dairy at the facilities of up the post," adding he took the Council meeting. But he said the overseen by the transitional council run winter vegetable decision to open the way for a new events following Al Bashir’s ouster by the military. The Sudanese Profes- markets to attract cus- stage. are “a domestic matter” dependent sional Association yesterday called on tomers in a bid to He pointed out that the rest of the on “the will of the Sudanese people.” the council to immediately relinquish Farm fresh vegetables are showcased at a commercial increase the sale of procedures will be in accordance “Any democratic process requires executive authority to a civilian gov- outlet under Qatar Farms Program. local vegetables. with the systems and procedures of time and that should not be ernment. `P4 April Festival at Waqif & Al Wakrah souqs concludes with big turnout QNA/THE PENINSULA group of Russian artistes who that there were no problems or DOHA entertained the crowd with their difficulties faced during the strength, balance and flexibility organization of the festival. The April festival hosted at Souq on beam and metal wheel. In Souq Al Wakrah, Russian Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah Children played various skill circus performances saw great concluded yesterday amid great games such as Archery, Balloon public attendance, with tickets turnout from the public. Pop, Air Gun, Mini Golf, Bowling, sold out even before its launch. In a statement yesterday, Mini Golf, Hit the Basket, Bas- Its shows ranged from aerobatic Mohammed Al Salem, Director of ketball as well and Virtual and acrobatic shows to amazing Souq Waqif, said the April Fes- Reality. In a first, the Abdul Aziz animal shows. tival succeeded in achieving the Nasser Theater presented the Visitors to Souq Al Wakrah’s goals set for it by the festival com- ‘Snow White’ show which was April Festival also enjoyed over mittee of the Private Engineering well received by families. a dozen skill games at the venue. Office, pointing out that during Falcons and miniature dhows The director of Souq Al the festival thousands of people on display provided traditional feel Wakra praised the efforts of the gathered in venues designated by to the festival, in addition to the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry Souq Waqif for the festival and traditional board game of damah of Health, security personnel, designed to respond to the which a number of locals were heritage police and organizers requirements of all families. seen playing at the venue. who were available in every The western arena of Souq The festive atmosphere also corner of the Souq to ensure the Waqif was filled with large extended to Souq Waqif’s alleys safety of visitors. The festival, crowds, watching the African with parades featuring different April Festival activities held at Souq Waqif, recently. PIC: BAHER AMIN/THE PENINSULA which kicked off on April 5 was circus performances by artistes artistes from different countries supervised by the Private Engi- from Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania wearing colourful costumes efforts made by the organizing Talking to Qatar News seen a large turnout estimated neering Office’s festival com- and Ivory Coast who captivated while some played instruments committee of the festival to guide Agency (QNA), Director of Souq at more than 80,000 visitors, as mittee and was aimed at stimu- the audience with breathtaking to the delight of visitors. the public to the venues of events Al Wakrah, Khalid Saif Al all the facilities were booked lating the tourism industry in two balancing acts. There was also a Al Salem also praised the and maintain the organization. Suwaidi, said that the festival has without exception, highlighting of the leading touristic spots. 02 HOME SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 OFFICIAL NEWS Pakistan National Assembly Speaker lauds PWF’s efforts Qatar condemns THE PENINSULA models in Pakistan, especially in explosion in Pakistan DOHA the rural areas. He also sought partnership with Qatar Foun- DOHA: The State of Qatar Asad Qaisar, Speaker of the dation for the above has expressed its strong National Assembly of Pakistan, programme. condemnation and denun- visited the Al Ahsan school PWF senior members, Said ciation of the explosion that campus and also the educational Gul, Israr Malazia, Riyaz Ahmad took place in a local market model set by Pakistan Welfare Bakali and a number of com- in the city of Quetta in the Forum (PWF). munity representatives were West of Pakistan, leaving a Ahmad Hussain, President of present. They discussed the edu- number of people killed. PWF, explained the concept cational needs of the community The Ministry of Foreign behind the initiative and collab- in Pakistan and Qatar. Affairs renewed, in a state- oration between Education The speaker assured his full ment released yesterday, Above All, Ministry of Education support for further and better the State of Qatar’s position and Qatar Charity to bring communication to make sure of rejecting violence and socially and economically that those concerns can be terrorism, regardless of the deprived segment of the society understood and resolved.