The Qatar government is about to set up a powerful Central Planning Office (CPO), reporting to the municipality and urban planning minister, which will coordinate all major project work in Qatar, as investment in the country’s infrastructure accelerates ahead of the Fifa World Cup competition in Qatar in 2022, the MEED Middle East Tunnelling 2011 Conference was told this morning.

“The national government will be announcing the estalbishment of the CPO in the next few weeks,” said Ambrose McGuire, adviser to the director of infrastructure affairs at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). “This will conduct high level reviews to allow people to properly discuss key challenges.”