Qatar World Cup Struggling with Labor Shortage... Receiving Security Support from Pakistani Military

Security Personnel Shortage Leads to Citizen Conscription as 'Patriotic Duty'
Also Receiving 3,000 Police Officers Dispatched from Turkey

Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Sung-wook] Qatar, the host country of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, announced that it has trained more than 50,000 personnel, including foreign troops, to strengthen security. Qatar will host the World Cup, the first ever in an Islamic country, from the 20th of this month to the 18th of next month.

According to Reuters and other sources on the 3rd (local time), Jabr Hammoud Jabr Al Nuaimi, spokesperson for the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "The participation of friendly countries' troops with professional skills will provide practical help for World Cup security," adding, "These troops will operate under Qatar's leadership." The Qatari government had previously signed an agreement to receive security support from the Pakistani military. Additionally, 3,000 police personnel will be dispatched from T?rkiye (Turkey).

Qatar continues to face manpower shortages ahead of the World Cup. Of Qatar's 2.8 million population, only 380,000 are native Qataris. The rest are workers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other countries, making it difficult to manage the expected minimum of 1.2 million visitors during the World Cup. Accordingly, Qatari authorities have conscripted hundreds of citizens as soldiers to maintain security and order during the event. These conscripts are responsible for tasks such as managing entry queues and monitoring the smuggling of alcohol, drugs, and weapons.

It is reported that many conscripts underwent various training sessions last September at a training camp north of the capital, Doha. The training included detecting prohibited items hidden in clothing pockets and linings, women's updos, and various parts of the body. While Qatari authorities claim this citizen conscription is a 'patriotic duty,' most conscripts reportedly comply out of fear of punishment by the authorities.

Meanwhile, Qatar has been embroiled in allegations of forcibly evicting thousands of workers who were staying near tourist accommodation areas for the World Cup. Last month, the Qatari government forcibly evicted over 1,200 foreign workers living in apartments near the capital, Doha, without prior notice. Bani Saraswati, director of the Middle Eastern human rights group Migrant Rights Project, criticized this, saying, "Qatar is trying to hide its use of cheap labor while only showing a luxurious and wealthy facade."

Qatar has also faced controversy over the exploitation of migrant workers during the World Cup preparations. In January, the British Daily Mail reported that more than 6,500 migrant workers involved in the construction of Qatar World Cup stadiums lost their lives due to harsh working conditions. The media outlet pointed out that "the World Cup is stained with blood," and criticized both the Qatari government and FIFA for remaining silent despite the recurring situation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.