The Nepali Muslim Society (NMS) collaborated with Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) to arrange an Iftar programme at Al Arabi Sport Club recently.
The programme was chaired by NMS president, Abdul Aziz. Also in attendance as guests of honour were Lt Col Abdul Waheed al-Inzi of the Traffic Department; Nepalese Chargé d’ Affaires Mani Ratna Sharma; Ayman al-Fatihi al-Nabawi, supervisor at Department of Community Services, RAF; and Faisal al-Hudawi, Community Co-ordinator at Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior Qatar.
The programme was attended by more than 1,500 Nepalese expatriates. RAF has been hosting Iftar for Nepalese community every year since 2009.
The Ministry of Interior also used the opportunity to organise a traffic awareness session for those in attendance. Al-Hudawi used slides to tell the audience about traffic rules and regulations. He told the listeners not to park vehicles in places where traffic mobility may be hindered. “Also, during Taraweeh prayers and Iftar gatherings, one should be conscious of where they are parking their vehicles.”
Before crossing roads, he said, one must check for cars by looking in the direction the vehicles would be coming from. Then look towards the other direction, and then again in the first direction to ensure the road is safe to cross. Only then should one cross the road. He also advised people to wear light-coloured clothes or reflective jackets or caps while walking to increase visibility in darkened streets.
Chargé d’ Affaires Sharma thanked RAF for the Iftar celebration. He appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Interior to increase traffic awareness among the Nepalese community in Qatar. “Such collaborative programmes strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries,” Sharma said. He thanked Qatar government for hosting “such a large number of Nepalese to work in Qatar.”
Lt Col al-Inzi said that everybody in Qatar was equal under the law. He said his department is always happy to increase awareness among the Nepalese community in Qatar about traffic rules and regulations. He urged people to follow traffic signals while driving and crossing roads, not to use cell phones while driving and to always wear seat belts.
Ayman al-Fatihi al-Nabawi from RAF said that his organisation is “always ready” to help Nepalese expatriates in need. Programmes such as the Iftar gathering, he said, strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. He added that RAF not only supports people in need in Qatar, but also supports the building of mosques, madrassas and schools in Nepal, India and Bangladesh.