Ashghal


Ashghal is the Public Works Authority of Qatar headquartered in Al Dafna, Doha. Ashghal was established based on the Emiri Decree issued by the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on January 20, 2004, as an autonomous body to design, deliver and manage all infrastructure related projects as well as public amenities of the State. Ashghal is responsible for the construction and maintenance of local roads, drainage systems, highways and public buildings like mosques, schools, hospital, health centers, parks, etc.

Organizational structure

The current president of Ashghal is H.E. Dr. Eng. Saad Ahmed Al Mohannadi.
Ashghal’s business units consist of five major affairs:
Ashghal currently has the following key programmes:
Ashghal is responsible for building infrastructure facilities for the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar. The Arab country plans to spend up to $100 billion in infrastructure projects between 2013 and 2022. Various companies like CH2M Hill, KBR, and Parsons Brinckerhoff are associated with many of Ashghal's projects.

Criticisms

Ashghal has been awarded many contracts and infrastructure projects contributing to preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Doha. Qatar has received a substantial amount of criticism and controversy surrounding their World Cup bid, most of which surrounds the treatment labor workers hired for infrastructure projects. Reports from multiple sources estimated that roughly 4000 migrant workers would lose their lives in the building process, many of them unaccounted for, one estimate claiming at least one worker a day would die. Sharan Burrow, of the International Trade Union Confederation claimed that the workers were “basically slaves”, claiming that “the Qatari government no commitment to human rights.”