Latest news with #Fahad
Arab Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Over 200 Syrians To Be Exposed In Kuwait Citizenship Forgery Scandal
KUWAIT CITY, July 19: Syrians who obtained Kuwaiti citizenship through forgery are on the verge of being uncovered. According to the sources, the files related to these forgeries were personally delivered by Kuwaiti officials to First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef during his recent one-day official visit, which began in Beirut and continued to Damascus. In Damascus, Sheikh Fahad held a four-hour meeting with Syrian officials to discuss the matter, present the files, and reinforce cooperation between the two countries. Both sides agreed to examine and match the evidence from Kuwait with Syrian records in an effort to expose the forgers and bring clarity to these fraudulent cases. Exclusive sources confirmed that the upcoming session of Kuwait's Supreme Nationality Investigation Committee will review evidence in over 200 cases involving Syrians suspected of fraudulently acquiring Kuwaiti nationality. These individuals are expected to lose their citizenship once the investigations conclude. Addressing Syrians holding forged Kuwaiti citizenship, the sources stated that the Damascus discussions were 'successful and productive,' and those involved should consider themselves exposed. Citizenship withdrawal, they emphasized, is inevitable. The sources also urged any Syrian involved in such forgery to voluntarily come forward, confess, and request to regularize their status as a gesture of good faith. Doing so may lead to possible solutions and reduce the legal and financial consequences they could otherwise face. 'No one who has forged citizenship should believe they are safe,' the sources warned. 'We will not allow Kuwait's identity, resources, and rights to be exploited by those who do not deserve them.'
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Shortage of bus shelters strains commuters
Listen to article For people travelling in a car, bus stops are just another space for flashy hoardings hence the availability or shortage of facilities would rarely be a concern. But for people travelling daily through public transport, the little box at the edge of the road can turn into a death trap during the summer heat. Although the Punjab Transport Company has initiated a plan to construct modern bus shelters with a budget of Rs16 million, both experts and citizens agree that these efforts are far too limited and slow-moving to meet the needs of a mega city like Lahore. According to the Punjab Transport Company (PTC), there are only 194 proper bus shelters across the city, with an additional 600 temporary stops (flag posts). Many of these shelters have limited seating capacity. Commuters in busy areas like Allama Iqbal Road, Egerton Road, Circular Road, and various sections of GT Road often complain about the lack or complete absence of shelters. One passenger lamented that people were forced to stand under the sun or rain, often having to take refuge in nearby shops. A young commuter, Fahad complained that even the Metro Bus waiting area had no roof for shielding passengers from the heat. Similarly, Muhammad Irfan, a resident of Shahdara, disclosed that the shelters lacked seating, were dirty, and had advertisement boards that further restricted passenger space. Fatima Batool, a daily commuter from Mughalpura to Model Town, revealed that she often had to wait for buses under the sun, and even when there was a shelter, it was so small that only a few people could fit inside. Likewise, Ayesha Nawaz, a student from Model Town, complained that in many areas, it was not even clear where the bus would stop. 'Shelters should at least offer drinking water, lighting, and secure waiting areas for women,' said Nawaz. According to urban planners, a city like Lahore needs more bus shelters to protect commuters from extreme weather and to manage heavy passenger loads. An official from the Punjab Transport Authority confirmed that even today, Lahore urgently needed 1,200 to 1,500 new bus stop shelters. Experts believe that the growing population and increasing number of vehicles have put immense pressure on urban infrastructure, yet no comprehensive planning has been seen to improve the number and quality of bus shelters. Dr Obaidullah Nadeem, Professor of City and Regional Planning at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, explained that when building shelters, it was essential to consider the location, traffic flow, and passenger volume. 'Shelters should be constructed slightly away from the road so that when a bus stops, it doesn't disrupt regular traffic. Modern shelters should include solar-powered lighting, digital timetables, and strong roofing to protect commuters from extreme weather. Even if not digital, there should be clear displays to help guide passengers on route information,' suggested Dr Nadeem. On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Punjab Transport Company, claimed that the government had not only improved existing shelters but also had plans to build 200 more bus shelters in the upcoming fiscal year. Among them, 50 will be constructed with a modern design, featuring separate waiting areas for men and women, a small tuck shop and Wi-Fi facilities.
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait Moves to Protect Expat Workers' Rights with New Enforcement
KUWAIT CITY, July 17: Under the directives of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah to monitor the enforcement of the Cabinet's decision on the timely payment of workers' salaries and wages, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) recently suspended several files of private businesses and companies that have been late in paying their workers' salaries or in depositing them regularly in local banks. They affirmed that this measure aims to protect workers' legal rights, which is a top priority for PAM. The sources explained that the suspension does not prevent the renewal of workers' files, nor does it block their transfer to another employer whose file is not suspended. This step is taken under Article 57 of Law No. 6/2010 concerning labor in the private sector, which states that 'an employer who hires no fewer than five workers, as per the law's provisions, is obligated to deposit their salaries into accounts at local financial institutions and submit copies of the bank statements to PAM.' The first phase of suspension targeted non-compliant business owners and companies in the private sector, based on the employer's commitment through PAM's automated systems to adhere to the requirements of the aforementioned article. This serves as a precautionary warning. While emphasizing that the suspension is primarily a warning to employers to ensure timely salary transfers to local financial institutions, the sources stressed that, under direct orders from Minister Sheikh Fahad, PAM will not tolerate any harm to Kuwait's reputation in human rights, especially regarding the rights of expatriate workers. They explained that PAM warned companies that fail to pay their workers' salaries regularly that immediate legal action will be taken against them. It affirmed its continued monitoring of employers to ensure full compliance with salary payment and deposit requirements in accordance with the Labor Law. Once the conditions are met, the suspension will be automatically lifted from the company or employer without the need for further review. Regarding the suspension of files and renewals, the sources clarified that suspending a company's file does not prevent the renewal of its workers' permits nor their transfer to a nonsuspended employer's file. This ensures that workers are not harmed or end up being in violation of residency laws. However, suspending an employer's file also halts the addition of new workers and the processing of need assessment requests until the employer's legal status with the Authority is rectified. The employer must fully commit to transferring workers' salaries to their accounts and provide reasons for any delays or failures through PAM's automated system via the 'Ashal' service. Suspending a file also means suspending the addition of new workers and the processing of need assessment procedures. It is worth highlighting that in October 2024, Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef stressed that he would take firm action against all companies violating the Cabinet's decision on the timely payment of salaries and wages to their workers.
Kuwait Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait, Syria eye cooperation
Kuwait, Syria eye cooperation Sheikh Fahad meets counterpart in Damascus after high-profile Lebanon visit DAMASCUS: First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah held talks on Tuesday with Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab to explore avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly over combating drug trafficking and organized crime and exchanging security information and expertise. According to a statement issued by Kuwaiti interior ministry, the discussions focused on enhancing coordination across various security domains with the aim of supporting the safety and stability of both countries. The two ministers affirmed the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Kuwait and Syria and their mutual keenness to advance joint efforts through strengthened security cooperation. They also agreed to maintain ongoing consultations on issues of shared interest and to activate institutional coordination channels between their respective ministries. The meeting was attended by senior security officials from both sides. Sheikh Fahad arrived in Damascus earlier in the day from Beirut, concluding an official visit to Lebanon. He was received at Damascus International Airport by Syrian Deputy Minister of Interior for Police Affairs Maj Gen Ahmed Latouf and several high-ranking Syrian security officials. During his visit to Lebanon, Sheikh Fahad met President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar. Discussions during those meetings focused on enhancing Kuwaiti-Lebanese cooperation in political, parliamentary, economic and security fields, reflecting the shared commitment of both nations to regional stability and sustainable development. — KUNA
MTV Lebanon
5 days ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
14 Jul 2025 12:42 PM Aoun, Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister reaffirm deep ties, security cooperation
President of the Republic Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's strong and historic ties with Kuwait during a meeting with Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah at Baabda Palace. The meeting, attended by Lebanese Interior Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Hajjar, focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation—particularly on security. President Aoun emphasized that Lebanon remains committed to deepening ties with Kuwait, which he described as 'a brotherly nation built on mutual respect and support.' The President also thanked Kuwait for its longstanding assistance to Lebanon and stressed the importance of joint efforts to counter drug trafficking and other threats to national security. In turn, Sheikh Fahad conveyed greetings from Kuwait's leadership and expressed his country's continued support for Lebanon across all sectors. He called for the reactivation of the Lebanese-Kuwaiti Joint Committee, dormant for over a decade, to explore expanded cooperation. The Kuwaiti Minister also praised the Lebanese community in Kuwait, describing it as one of the most respected expatriate groups. Following the meeting, Sheikh Fahad told reporters that security remains a top priority and highlighted the importance of leadership with security experience, both in Kuwait and Lebanon, during times of regional instability. Fahad also reiterated Kuwait's firm stance on outlawing Hezbollah activity within its borders.
