The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani formally launched the country's ambitious Vision Document, Qatar's National Vision (QNV) 2030, before a gathering of ministers, policy experts and senior officials from various ministries, yesterday. The launch of QNV 2030 was carried out in a symbolic ceremony which represented the spirit of the Vision by drawing attention to balancing the needs of the present-future generations. Resting on four pillars - Human Development, Social Development, Economic Development and Environment Development- the National Vision is basically aimed at transforming Qatar into an advanced country by year 2030. The document underpins the need for Qatar striking a balance between its five major challenges, including the size and the quality of expatriate labour force and Qatar's development. The other challenges include modernisation and preservation of traditions, the needs of the current generation and the needs of future generations; managed growth and uncontrolled expansion; and finally economic growth and social development viz-a-viz environmental management. On the modernisation and preservation of traditions, the document said Qatar's rapid economic and population growth have created intense strains between the old and the new in almost every aspect of life. Modern work patterns and pressures of competitiveness sometimes clash with traditional relationships based on trust and personal ties, and create strains for family life. Qatar has to strike a balance between its age-old traditions and greater freedoms and wider choices that accompany its fast developing society triggered by rapid economic boom. The document wanted the country to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations. "The rights of the future generations would be threatened if the depletion of non-renewable resources were not compensated by the creation of new sources of renewable wealth. Qatar's National Vision will choose the development path that carefully balances the interests of the current generation with the interests of future generations". On the environment protection, the Vision document said environmental degradation can be reduced through investment in advanced technologies designed to minimize the damage caused by economic projects. It can also be reduced by avoiding rapid an unplanned growth. The country must also commit to making its future path of development compatible with the requirements of protecting and conserving the environment. "Wherever there is an environmental cost to be paid for economic progress, it must be compensated with investments in technologies that help improve the environment'. The Pen

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