The Permanent Population Committee (PPC) (Arabic: اللجنة الدائمة للسكان) is a national authority in the state of Qatar

Qatar

Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...

 whose mission is to realize the aptness of population requirements to sustainable development. To do so, PPC bases its action on Islamic Sharia principles and communal values and traditions in line with the political foundations of the Qatar Permanent Constitution, the National Vision, the relevant Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)

Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf

The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf , also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council , is a political and economic union of the Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf and constituting the Arabian Peninsula, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates...

 Population Policies and other related regional and international guidelines. The PPC is charged with the responsibility for the implementation of the outcomes identified by the general framework of the GCC population strategy adopted by the GCC Supreme Council during its Nineteenth Session, held in Abu Dhabi UAE in 1998. This strategy prompted each member state to establish a higher population committee responsible for developing national population policies. Accordingly, the PPC was established by the Council of Ministers decision number (24) in 2004 with defined responsibilities and committee membership. His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent, endorsed the decision.

Pursuant to the Council Ministers' decision No (11) 2009 the General Secretariat for Development Planning

General Secretariat for Development Planning

The General Secretariat for Development Planning is a governmental agency in the State of Qatar. It was established through an Emiri Decision No in 2006 and amended by Emiri Decision No in 2009...

 (GSDP) shall have supervision over the Permanent Population Committee and shall be independent in assuming its technical works. The Committee shall have a budget attached to that of the GSDP.

Vision and Strategy

The main vision and strategy of PPC is to improve the quality of life for the population of Qatar, the PPC looks to expand opportunities for individuals and families, enhance individual capabilities, increase participation in socio-economic activities, encourage political and cultural progress, improve living standards, and provide a clean environment so that people benefit from healthy food, pure water and sustainable health care. All Qatari residents need to live in appropriate housing, practice safe activities, and be assured of equal rights for all. To establish values of justice, fairness and fraternity, the vision ensures the preservation of rights and brotherhood for future generations and the guarantee of the appropriate use of the country's wealth, resources and capacities.

Goals and Objectives

The main objective of the PPC is the development of the Population Policy for the State of Qatar. This objective is linked to a number of sub-goals, with the most prominent being the following:

1. Monitor the population policy implementation by using a scientific approach and studying carefully the various proposals of the relevant agencies entrusted with implementation.
2. Develop an institutional framework to coordinate efforts among inline Ministries, Government Agencies, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Arab, Regional and International Organizations concerned with population related issues for the implementation of national population policy programs.
3. Monitor processes aimed at integrating population policy goals within global development plans, specifically within plans related to social, health, education, media, culture and environment.
4. Conduct population related studies and research to assess the social situation of the State, ensuring an appropriate level of quality and objectivity, so as to assist in designing population policies and programs.

Technical Bureau

The Technical Bureau of the PPC is entrusted with the day to day operations as instructed by the PPC. The Technical Bureau's key tasks are as follows:

1. Follow up of the implementation of PPC's decisions and recommendations, the preparation of periodical reports concerned with the committee's activities and achievements, and the production of various documents related to PPC functions, minutes of meetings and correspondence.
2. Analysis of population census and survey results, especially those related directly to population policies and programs, and the use of these results to develop procedures and activities aimed at attaining PPC objectives.
3. Implementation of desk and field studies, and research to diagnose different population trends, assess implications, and propose policy changes, particularly for issues of population makeup, growth, and family-related components.
4. Monitor PPC sub-committees functions and workgroups entrusted with specialized studies and research needed for the committee's deliberation.
5. Development of technical and administrative staff capabilities, as well as related national organization's and institution's focal points to benefit from the expertise and technical assistance provided by relevant regional and international organizations.
6. Organization of PPC conferences, symposiums and workshops scheduled to discuss population policy issues.
7. Establishment and implementation of media plans to enhance population awareness and generate appropriate interaction among various community groups.

Research Study and Information Service

The Technical Bureau is responsible to receive the requests and to execute the studies about population in Qatar. Inaddtion, it is responsible to implementation of desk and field studies, and research to diagnose different population trends, assess implications, and propose policy changes, particularly for issues of population makeup, growth, and family-related components.

Target Audience

• Citizens
  • All
• Residents
  • All
• Businesses
  • All
• Others
  • Government and non government entities

Members

The PPC is formed with representatives from government agencies and non government organizations dealing with population issues in the State. These are:

1. The General Director of the General Secretariat for Development Planning, Presiden (Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabor Bin Jassim Al Thani
   Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim Al Thani
   H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin Jassim bin Jabor bin Muhammed Al Thani was appointed by the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, as the Director General of the General Secretariat for Development Planning and Chairman of Qatar Statistics Authority in 2007.At GSDP, Sheikh Hamad is in...
   
   ).
2. The Director of the Technical Bureau of the PPC, Vice President.
3. A representative of the General Secretariat for Development Planning, Reporter.
4. A representative of the Ministry of Defense, Member.
5. A representative of the Ministry of Interior, Member.
6. A representative of the Ministry of Labour, Member.
7. A representative of the Ministry of Health, Member.
8. A representative of the Supreme Education Council
   Education in Qatar
   Along with the country’s free health care to every citizen, every child has free education from kindergarten through high school. Some universities from the United States have opened satellite campuses in the country at Education City, Qatar...
   
   , Member.
9. A representative of the Ministry of Social Affairs , Member.
10. A representative of Qatar Petroleum
    Qatar Petroleum
    Qatar Petroleum is a state owned petroleum company in Qatar. The company operates all oil and gas activities in Qatar, including exploration, production, refining, transport, and storage. QP's Chairman Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, is also the head of the Ministry of Energy and Industry and, as...
    
    , Member.
11. A representative of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Member.

Population Policy

Population policy determines the principles, objectives and policies adopted by the State as regards population issues for the purpose of influencing the population status, including variables in population growth and its main elements (fertility, births, deaths, geographical distribution, immigration, population composition such as population youthfulness or rising rate of the elderly), as well as general issues relating to health and education.

Population policy forms a large umbrella policy covering all programs and activities directly and indirectly influencing population variables.

Population policy focuses on premises and constants based on society’s culture and values.

Bases of Population Policy

The Qatari population policy is based on the provisions of Sharia (Islamic law), the Qatari Constitution, heritage and societal values derived from the original national Qatari heritage as well as statements by H. H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa

Hamad bin Khalifa

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is the ruling Emir of the State of Qatar since 1995.Sheikh Hamad was the appointed Heir Apparent of Qatar between 1977 and 1995 and at the same time Minister of Defense. In the early 1980s he led the Supreme Planning Council, which sets the Qatar's basic economic...

 Al Thani, the Emir

Emir

Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...

of Qatar, in various fields linked to the welfare and empowerment of the Qatari national in different domains.

Population Policy Objectives

Population policy objectives aim at striking a balance in the State of Qatar between population and economic, social and environmental resources, family development and coherence, women’s empowerment, consolidation of gender values of justice, development of reproductive health so as to secure provision of family and child health services, stressing the need for continued action for the attainment of safe motherhood and sound childhood programs, population protection from the effects of deterioration of the environment surrounding it as well as from unsustainable and unjust production and consumption patterns.

Sources

• The Permanent Population Committee (PPC) official website
• The General Secretariat for Development Planning official website