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Despite the government’s efforts to enhance food security, control markets, and avoid any shortage of basic commodities, consumers have been complaining about the continued scarcity of chicken in cooperative societies and parallel markets, reports Al-Qabas daily.
Inspection teams of several government agencies, including the Committee on the Food Security System, conducted a tour recently after an increase in the complaints from consumers and officials of cooperative societies alike about the great shortage of chicken and chicken products. The tour revealed the existence of an artificial crisis by some supplier companies, which refrained from supplying the markets with its products in order to increase the prices by 20 percent. This was confirmed to the daily by officials.
The tour, which was launched under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Social Affairs in some cooperative societies, revealed an abundance of some products and a severe shortage in others, especially local poultry products.
Despite the assurances of government officials about the availability of goods and the abundance of food stocks, the commercial advisor to the Zahra Cooperative Society Abdul Rasoul Sarkhouh revealed that there is a problem in the process of supplying local poultry products to the cooperative societies.
On the sidelines of the tour, he disclosed that the problem in the shortage of poultry and the current crisis is an artificial one caused by local poultry companies, which are refraining from providing supermarkets with their products due to their request for an increase in prices.
He added, “We rejected this demand to increase the poultry prices. Consequently, some local companies refused to supply, which created a shortage in the quantities required for display within cooperative societies. At the same time, the products of companies are widely available and cover a long period.
The cooperative societies are the first line of defense for the strategic stockpile in Kuwait, and have a monthly plan to provide the stock according to the current conditions that Kuwait is going through”.
The Assistant Undersecretary for the Cooperative Sector in the Ministry of Social Affairs Hiyam Al-Khudair said the food stock is sufficient and reassuring, indicating that there is price control by the Ministry of Commerce, and keenness to follow it up by the relevant committees.
Regarding poultry products, Al-Khudair explained that the matter is under study to figure out the reasons behind the lack of supply from the companies. The ministry will develop solutions in this regard.
The observations about the increase in prices and their disparity between cooperative societies relate to the mechanisms of some boards of directors.
She said, “The Ministry of Social Affairs is monitoring the situation. No request for a price increase for any commodity was submitted by the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies”.
Al-Khudair highlighted the monitoring on shortage of stock, adding, “In the event of deliberate violation of any commodity, the supermarkets responsible for this will be issued with a citation”.
Head of the Consumer Protection Authority Mishal Al-Manea explained that the cooperative societies were divided according to locations to look into the price differences.
The results led to the discovery of minor differences in some products, especially chicken. The relevant committee was informed. This necessitated the union officials to follow up the matter and conduct inspections, especially since the matter is considered a violation of the circulars of the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies.
He revealed that one of the reasons for the rise in the prices of some products is the cancellation of the annual offers submitted by some companies, and the return to their normal prices based on a previous circular from the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies.
Head of the Farwaniya Inspection Department of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Abdul Azim Al-Shammari said inspectors are deployed to seize cases of monopoly and profiteering in supermarkets, shops or companies, and those found in violation are referred to the commercial prosecution for necessary legal actions to be taken.
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The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has addressed the Ministry of Health after the ministry asked it to provide it with a legal opinion regarding the launch of the service to create sick leave without medical advice, so that the employee can obtain the leave through the platform without visiting the health center, reports Al-Anba daily.
The Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the CSC, in his response to the ministry, of which the daily has obtained a copy, stated that the Ministry of Health’s proposal is discretionary to the employer, according to the proposed procedure, which has the right to accept and reject, as this is a legal violation, and contradicts the nature of the sick leave. He indicated the proposal requires the CSC to amend its Decision No. 39 of 2006 referred to, because this decision requires the granting of sick leave to be granted by primary health care centers, and therefore granting it without medical approval according to the proposed procedure requires presentation of the issue to the CSC and therefore no action may be taken without the CSC approval.
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MP Ahmad Al- Hamad has forwarded queries to Minister of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research Ali Al-Mudhaf about Kuwaitis who graduated from universities in other countries and complained about the accreditation of their academic certificates.
He wants to know the number of such students who filed cases against the Ministry of Higher Education regarding the accreditation of certificates obtained from universities abroad, number of such cases in which the ministry lost, amount of compensation and fines paid in the last 10 years, if studies have been conducted to determine factors that led to losing in these cases, those responsible for the losses, steps taken to address this problem and prevent the wastage of public funds, why Kuwaiti students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have had no health insurance for several years, other countries where Kuwaiti students are not covered by health insurance, compensation for students not covered by health insurance, and if the compensation is enough to cover their medical expenses every year.
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The Ministry of Interior continued its campaign against residence violators in various areas of Kuwait which resulted in apprehending a number of absconders, residence violators and violating labor law.
80 Expats of various nationalities were arrested for residence violation in Jleeb Al Shuyoukh, Salmiya and Salhiya areas. 48 absconders, 13 with expired residence, 2 with expired visa, 5 absconding from sponsors, 12 without valid ID proof. They were referred to the competent authority to take necessary legal action against them.
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The Central Statistical Bureau says the general index of the wholesale price in Kuwait rose by 2.3 percent in 2021 to reach the level of 141.7 in December 2021, from 138.6 in December 2020. The prices of imported goods increased by 3.2 percent, and the prices of local goods increased by 0.6 percent, reports Al-Anba daily.
The report, which focused on the price movement between December 2020 and December 2021, showed an increase in the prices of materials included in the agricultural and fishing group by 1.4 percent, as a result of increase in the prices of crop cultivation and animal production activities by one percent, and increase in the prices of imported goods by 0.8 percent, and in the prices of domestic goods by 3.1 percent.
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According to local media, the Kuwaiti city of Al Jahra has seen the world's hottest temperatures, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius in the shade.
Al Jahra had the highest temperatures on earth on Sunday, according to the global temperature index, with 49.7 °C, followed by Al Wafra city with 49.7 °C.
An extremely hot air mass is now affecting Kuwait and portions of southern Iraq, as well as eastern and northeastern Saudi Arabia, and is anticipated to last for the rest of the week, with temperatures surpassing 50° C.
On June 25, last year, the Kuwaiti city of Nawasib registered 53.2 degrees Celsius, the world's hottest temperature since then. Meanwhile, in Iran, Ahvas and Al Amidiyah each reached 50.1 degrees Celsius, and in Kuwait, Jahra recorded 50.1 degrees Celsius.
Kuwait's summer season is marked by a lack of rain, extreme heat, and powerful winds, known as 'Al Bawareh,' which start blowing in late May with 'Al Bareh Al Sagheer' (little) and last until mid-July with 'Al Bareh Al Kabeer (grand)', causing dust storms in the country's deserts.
The extreme heat is caused by the flow of Indian low-pressure winds into the Zagros Mountains, where the wind loses heat at a rate of six degrees per kilometre owing to compression at the high elevation.
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A Kuwaiti media cited a source in Kuwait's state Civil Service Commission for its report saying that Kuwaiti workers, including expats, can receive cash for their unused vacation time.
Kuwait issued a decree last April allowing unused holiday balances to be repaid to employees.
The Al Anba media reported that certain conditions must be met by candidates in order to be eligible for the program.
A civil servant must have worked for at least five years and have at least 30 days of holiday leave remaining before the end of the year. Also required are excellent performance evaluation reports in the employee's last two evaluation reports.
According to the source, after applications are approved by employment institutions, the ministries review them before referring them to the Finance Ministry.
According to a parliamentary proposal by Kuwait's government, employees can be paid for unused holidays as of February, after the government promised to change a civil service law.
There is no information available as to how many of the 4.6 million employees in the country would benefit from the scheme.
Kuwait has a total population of nearly 3.5 million foreigners.
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The outsourcing centre of the Indian Embassy in Kuwait City will now be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This aims to make up for the closure of the two other outsourcing centres in the Jleeb and Fahaheel districts.
Because the Abbasiya and Fahaheel centres are temporarily closed, the BLS Passport and Visa outsourcing centre in Kuwait City, Jawahra Tower, Ali Al Salem Street (next to Souk Kabir), will serve as the only centre to accept applications until further notice.
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The Supreme Consultative Committee for Labor Affairs held its first meeting for 2022-2023 after it was re-formed according to the decision of the Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Integrity Promotion for 2022, reports Al-Rai daily. The meeting was held at the Public Authority for Manpower headquarters in the presence of PAM committee members, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Kuwait Municipality, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the General Federation of Kuwait Workers.
The meeting was chaired by acting Director-General of the Public Authority for Manpower, Sultan Al-Shaalani. The committee discussed many issues related to the Kuwaiti labor market and proposals submitted by the Employment Affairs Sector of the Public Authority for Manpower to amend some provisions of the list of rules and procedures for granting work permits pursuant to Resolution No. 156 of 2022.
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Personnel from the technical inspection sector of the General Traffic Department under the leadership and supervision of Colonel Mishaal Al- Suwaiji, cordoned off the Khaitan area and arrested many violators, most of them motorists whose driving licenses had expired and seized vehicles which were found to be not road worthy, reports Al-Rai daily.
Director of the Technical Inspection Department, Colonel Mishaal Al-Suwaiji, said in an exclusive statement to a local Arabic daily that these campaigns are continuing in all governorates of the country to arrest violators, based on instructions issued by the Minister of Interior Lieutenant-General (Retd) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf, the Undersecretary of the Ministry, Lieutenant-General Anwar Al-Barjas, and the Traffic Sector Undersecretary, Major General Jamal Al-Sayegh.
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Foods with a long shelf life cannot remain for sale at grocery stores until the last day of validity. The allowed period till when they can be displayed depends on the period of expiry. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry sets these periods, and stores have to follow them.
Products with a shelf life of three years or more, such as oil, sugar, etc, should be removed from shelves 60 to 90 days before the date of expiry printed on the package. Products with a shelf life of two years, such as canned foods like hummus, foul, etc, should be removed from shelves 45 to 60 days before the date of expiry. Products with a shelf life of one year, such as canned tuna, biscuits, etc, should be removed from shelves at least 30 days before the date of expiry.
President of the Consumer Protection Association (CPA) Mishal Al-Manea explained all markets should respect these periods, otherwise they will be penalized. “Customers can report violations at the Consumer Protection Department. The consumer also has the right to return the product if they find it is near expiry, if they have the invoice,” he told Kuwait Times.
There are instructions for receiving and storing food products. “Certain rules should be followed when receiving products from suppliers. The basic rules should be applied to all products. For instance, the store should not accept products whose production period is longer than the period remaining to their expiry,” explained Manea.
“Fresh products or daily-produced items, whose expiry period is less than a week, should be removed from the shelves or refrigerators one day before or on the same day of expiry, depending on the condition of the product,” he added. The responsibility is on both the director of the supermarket as well as the product distributor. The director should check the expiry of all food products.
Kuwait Times asked various grocery stores and supermarkets about the possibility of refunds for products with expiry dates closer than the period set by the ministry. Two well-known supermarkets and two co-ops in different areas confirmed that if the consumer wants a refund for any product whose expiry date is shorter than the period set by the ministry, then they will be refunded. But the consumer should always keep the invoice to be able to return the product.
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According to Kuwaiti astronomer Al-Saadoun, today and tomorrow i.e Tuesday and Wednesday. Kuwait will see the meteor shower from the constellation Aries.
Al-Saadoun explained that this meteor shower is visible emerging from the constellation of Aries, suggesting that it is made up of very small dust and rock fragments left behind by asteroid (Icarus 1566).
After the sunset and before sunrise are the best times to watch it, since it won't be visible at night.
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Kuwaiti courts have sentenced a user of Twitter to five years in prison after finding him guilty of insulting Saudi Arabia online, a local newspaper reports.
"The tweeter was also found guilty of spreading false news by the Criminal Court, Al Rai said.
In Kuwait, the defendant has been identified as Salman Al Khaldi by the portal Media Court.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have all filed charges against Kuwaiti writer Abdullah Al Saleh over his defamatory tweets. He has since been sentenced to 30 years in prison in a series of cases.
All three countries belong to the Gulf Cooperation Council, along with Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman.
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Khaled Al-Dakhnan, the head of the Kuwaiti Federation of Domestic Labor Office Owners, spoke of the sector's inability to compete with neighbouring countries in bringing in quality trained domestic workers, while the Ministry of Commerce is adamant about sticking to its decision of an 890 dinar recruitment fee.
A local Arabic daily quoted Al-Dakhnan as saying that the office owners can't cover the cost with 890 dinars meanwhile they had to pay for the worker's flight ticket. In view of the new circumstances, he added, the Federation has repeatedly highlighted the difficulty of setting a higher ceiling for recruitment, as well as competition from many Gulf and Asian countries to attract domestic workers, particularly from the Philippines, which accounts for 75 percent of total employment in this sector.
Al-Dakhnan added that the sector is currently facing difficult economic conditions, particularly following the Corona crisis, which paralyzed the world as a result of air traffic disruptions, and that if the higher ceiling for recruitment remains in place, many office owners will be forced to close their doors due to their inability to continue due to financial burdens such as rent, employee salaries, and other expenses. The meeting discussed the costs charged by offices in labour-exporting countries, and Al-Dakhnan disclosed that they differ between 795 and 875 dinars, indicating that the ministry's price does not allow Kuwaiti offices to compete with those in other countries.
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The Ministry of Interior said everyone, citizen or resident has the right to file a complaint against the men in uniform in case of arbitrary arrest or violation of rights and added the security men are committed to the laws in all the procedures and that all those arrested are according to prior investigations and after getting permission from the Public Prosecution or through communications received by the Ministry of Interior, and it is motivated by law to deal with these communications, reports Al-Anba daily.
The daily quoting security sources said the arrest of an expatriate, who had painted a tattoo, was arrested based on a report received by the Ministry of Interior, and immediately after the arrest the expatriate, and the issue was referred to the Public Prosecution. The same source told the daily the Ministry of Interior cannot turn a blind eye to any transgression even by its employees, and cited the case of referring the file of the citizen Abdullah Tami who claimed he was tortured to the Public Prosecution and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf has issued a decision to open an investigation.
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MP Bader Al-Humaidi forwarded queries to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Muhammad Al-Fares about the recruitment of two expatriates – purchase manager and legal researcher – for the Amiri Diwan with a salary of KD1,000 each. He asked if the Diwan published a job advertisement and whether Kuwaitis applied for these positions or not. He also asked Minister of Health Dr Khalid Al- Saeed about a document showing that an Egyptian doctor is receiving salary and allowances amounting to KD6,000 and if the Health Ministry published an advertisement for this job.
If the content of the document is true, he requested for justifications as Kuwaiti specialist doctors and surgeons are receiving a salary of KD5,000 or lower; while the expatriate doctor’s salary package is higher. He inquired about the number of Kuwaiti doctors with the same specialization as the Egyptian doctor – Interventional Radiology. In another development, Al-Humaidi submitted a proposal to recruit retirees for various jobs in the public and private sectors based on their experience and specializations under the wage system.
MP Al-SaifiMubarak Al-Saifihas forwarded queries to Health Minister Dr Khalid Al-Saeed about a decision issued in February 2022 regarding the creation of a new position – head of medical board. He wants to know the reasons for appointing certain doctors to such a position and if any of those appointed to the post took decisions against their colleagues based on malicious reports without conducting investigations. He also asked Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Essa Al-Kandari about the complaints of several employees, especially those assigned in Dar Al-Quran, regarding salary cuts which negatively affected their day-to-day life. He demanded for a list of the concerned employees including the amount deducted from their salaries and justifications for taking such a step. He inquired if an administrative and technical system is available for an employee to check his job record and access his career archive.
MP Ahmad Al-Hamad forwarded queries to Minister of Education and Higher Education Ali Al-Mudaf about the spread of private tutorials, which recently reached the students of Kuwait University (KU) and Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET). He asked if the Higher Education Ministry is aware of this phenomenon, if the ministry allows private tutorials, number of tutorial classes that the ministry provides to help students improve their academic performance, number of cases filed against the ministry regarding its decision on the accreditation of school certificates and number of these cases in which the ministry lost, total number of cases filed against the ministry over the past decade and number of cases in which the ministry lost, amount of compensation paid to the plaintiffs, if the ministry conducted studies to determine the causes of such loss, reason why the Kuwaitis studying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are not covered by health insurance, alternatives for students not covered by health insurance, and if it is possible to replace the health insurance with cash.
On the other hand, National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim sent a cable to Speaker of the Bangladeshi Parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury to express condolences over the victims of the fire which broke out in Sitakunda, Bangladesh recently. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh Arab Times Staff
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Kuwait enjoys sunny days almost the whole year long, but this source of energy is not exploited like in many other countries. Solar energy is used in Kuwait in a few places, including private houses. Kuwait Times interviewed Dr Abrar Al-Ali, Astronomy Specialist at Al-Ojairi Scientific Center and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (UK), for more information on the uses of solar energy in Kuwait, its benefits, the challenges facing its use and other issues.
KUWAIT: Photos show some solar panels in Kuwait. Solar energy is used in Kuwait in a few places, including private houses.
Kuwait Times: In which sectors is solar energy used in Kuwait?
Dr Abrar Al-Ali: The Ministry of Electricity and Water and Renewable Energy is continuously looking at ways to promote the use of clean energy. For instance, the Shaqaya project, in collaboration with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), comprises of solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and wind power systems. It produces 70 megawatts in its first phase – enough to supply a residential area such as Nuzha, as well as encouraging consumers to change their patterns of energy dependence by installing solar cells, using photovoltaic glass on the facades of commercial complexes to generate clean energy, and collaborating with government agencies to build environmentally-friendly schools.
In addition, the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) has been successful in launching and sponsoring several pilot programs to supply, install and operate photovoltaic cells at cooperative societies and private residences. The PV system at Zahra Cooperative Society has a capacity of 780 kWp, which can produce roughly 1,270 MWh of electrical energy per year. This can power more than 16 houses for a year, saving at least 780 barrels of oil annually and reducing CO2 emissions by at least 1,150 tons per year.
KT: Is the government interested in expanding the use of solar energy?
Ali: The late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah announced at the 2012 United Nations Conference on Climate Change that Kuwait will strive to produce 15 percent of its power from solar and wind by 2030, a goal that has since been reaffirmed in the New Kuwait 2035 vision. Thus, the government is keen on increasing the usage of solar energy. KISR has been researching the potential of capturing energy through alternative means since the 1980s, pioneering research in concentrated solar thermal technologies as well as photovoltaic panels, and it continues to implement a number of management programs to help address Kuwait’s emerging energy challenge.
KT: What is the impact of replacing electricity with solar energy on the environment?
Ali: Solar power plants mitigate the environmental implications of combustion utilized in fossil fuel power generation, such as greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution emissions. In addition to these advantages, solar development generates both direct and indirect jobs and additional funds in the locations where it is implemented. However, like with everything, there are certain negative effects linked with solar power facilities that must be addressed, such as cost and efficacy.
KT: How much would the government save by replacing traditional energy with solar energy?
Ali: With the aim to develop 2 GW of power capacity from renewable sources by 2030, Kuwait will meet the electricity demand of 100,000 homes while saving 12.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per year.
KT: Are people in Kuwait aware of the benefits of solar energy? And would they be ready to use it to supply their houses with energy?
Ali: KFAS has previously installed PV panels in approximately 150 homes in collaboration with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the Ministry of Electricity and Water, Kuwait Municipality and the Public Authority for Housing Welfare. The PV system installed capacity for 150 households is around 1.5 MWp, which may save at least 1,500 barrels of oil and reduce CO2 emissions by at least 2,200 tons annually. Based on the success of this pilot project, KFAS has begun spreading and encouraging renewable energy applications in the Kuwaiti society more generally and has proposed a similar project in an effort to supply, install and operate solar cells in 1,500 households.
KT: What are the biggest challenges or obstacles facing the use of solar energy?
Ali: Due to Kuwait’s unique climate, panels are exposed to intense heat and dust, and traditional solar panels require periodic cleaning to ensure that their efficiency is not significantly harmed by wind-blown desert sands. Fortunately, new technologies have arisen to address these challenges. This includes the use of robotic cleaners to remove dirt and dust off solar panels, allowing them to absorb the maximum amount of energy possible.
In addition, many photovoltaic solar projects do not attain optimal energy and power outputs due to inadequate technical sizing and system design approaches. Today, Al-Ojairi Scientific Center is investigating the establishment of design methodologies that would result in increased outputs from solar arrays to address concerns related to low-conversion rates, high intermittencies, and high capital expenditures of PV projects.
KT: Is it true that the cost of the solar panels and their maintenance is expensive?
Ali: While costs have come down over the past years, installation and maintenance of solar panels can be quite expensive due to various factors, which includes the cost of the equipment. Solar boards demand complex manufacturing techniques as well as the usage of costly raw materials such as high-grade silicon for solar panels and lithium for solar batteries. Another consideration is the soft expenses, which include a professional solar installation that is both safe and consistent with local rules and warranties.
KT: Why is Kuwait so late in benefitting from solar energy although it’s sunny most of the year?
Ali: Interestingly, Kuwait was one of the first supporters of renewable energy in the Middle East, with involvement reaching back to the mid-1970s; yet, the industry is still in its early phases. However, renewable energy is now making its way into Kuwait’s development strategy and political debate.
The Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) and the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) are key players in the movement toward a low-carbon economy. The government has assigned KISR in particular with developing large-scale alternative energy systems in partnership with international bodies and technological companies.
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Finding a place to park has always been a challenge for tenants who live in densely-populated investment areas, but now the problem has reached residential and commercial areas, with no action taken towards it. Mariam Saeed, who lives in Hawally, told Kuwait Times her building doesn’t provide parking spaces for tenants, which causes her daily suffering searching for a nearby place to park.
“Because we park in any available place, our cars get damaged by the sun, especially during the summer. This costs us yearly to repair our cars, not to mention the random scratches,” she added. Most tenants have more than one car, and due to the lack of parking spaces in investment areas, some of them use their neighbors’ parking spaces, which increases conflicts between them. Ahmad Sameer, who lives in Farwaniya, said “in order to find a solution, our building haris held a draw to distribute the parking spaces among tenants, which gave us a temporary solution to the problem of parking violations by other tenants”.
Asmaa Hassan said she makes sure before renting an apartment that it has at least two parking spaces. “It is almost impossible to find two parking spaces in investment areas,” she said. “Even tenants who rent in residential areas face the same problem, which has affected our choices of apartments,” said Maha Haikal, who lives in Salwa. “We make sure there is an open yard nearby to park our cars, otherwise, we don’t rent the apartment,” she added.
“I offered my next-door neighbor KD 15 per month to rent his parking spot, because I am worried about my daughters parking far away and taking a long walk to the house,” said Zaher Al-Jamous, a father of two working daughters. “Before this, our building owner asked me to pay KD20 per month for one extra parking space despite the presence of extra parking spaces in the building.”
Rashed Ali, another tenant who lives in Salwa, told Kuwait Times that his residential building owner closed the car parking basement and turned it to a warehouse so he can benefit from renting it. “This happens all the time in residential and investment areas. We hope the Municipality takes action on this issue, especially since some owners store flammable materials in the basements, which could threaten the lives of tenants,” he added.
Fadi Al-Qeshawi, who works in the private sector, said his company is located in the capital area in a commercial tower, but they don’t have a parking space or a multilevel car parking nearby. “Employees who work in these towers have two options — either pay KD2.5 daily for valet parking, which means burdening themselves with KD65 per month, or park their cars in a faraway open area and ride a bus to take them to the tower,” he told Kuwait Times. He added they also face the threat of a parking ticket or license suspension if they park in an unauthorized area.
Anood Al-Mulla told Kuwait Times that commercial areas suffer from a parking crisis, especially in the capital area, wondering about the absence of the Municipality to force investment buildings to provide free car parking spaces for employees. “If the Municipality is struggling to provide spaces for cars to park, smart car parking is a perfect solution to save space and solve a real problem,” she suggested.
Traffic law
According to the General Traffic Department, article 42 of the traffic law states that it is permitted to suspense a driver’s license or vehicle registration with its plate number, or both, for a maximum period of four months in case of parking in places that are not designated for parking and disrupting the traffic flow. Kuwait Times tried to contact the Kuwait Municipality to ask about the reasons and solutions for the parking issue, but received no response.
A source in the interior ministry said their role is to apply the law on parking violators, mentioning the only body responsible for this issue is the Municipality. According to a study published in 2019 by the Real Estate Association in cooperation with Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, Kuwait needs 40 million sq m of space to resolve the parking issue, while the value of investment required is about KD 7 billion ($23 billion) to cover the current gap in parking.
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During the summer season of 2022, from January 1 to September 30th, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is expected to operate 43,145 flights. According to DGCA Deputy Director-General for Planning and Projects Saad Al-Otaibi, air traffic is estimated to surpass 6,001,221 passengers this summer.
Saad Al-Otaibi, the DGCA's Deputy Director-General for Planning and Projects, told KUNA on Sunday that aviation traffic this summer is expected to reach 6,001,221 passengers.
According to the source, this high amount is divided into 2,994,786 departures and 3,006,435 arrivals at Kuwait International Airport. He highlighted the DGCA's readiness to handle these numbers by increasing employees and services. This high amount is divided into 2,994,786 departures and 3,006,435 arrivals at Kuwait International Airport, according to him. He confirmed the DGCA's readiness to handle these numbers by increasing employees and services. (KUNA)
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In the Jahra region, the weather stations which measure the state's maximum temperatures have recorded a temperature of 52 degrees today.
As a result of these conditions, the temperature was 51°s in Sulaibiya and Wafra, as well as 50°s in Abdali and Nuwaiseeb.
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