KUWAIT CITY: The worsening traffic problems in Kuwait have negatively affected the national economy as well as the individual, society and companies, MP Abdulaziz Al-Shayeji said Sunday. Speaking to the Arab Times, Al-Shayeji explained traffic flow or people's ability to travel from one place to another through any means of transportation is a major indicator of the quality of life of the citizens and residents. He said transportation development is one of the main requirements for Kuwait to realize its vision to become a financial hub in the region. He underlined the need to improve the living standards of Kuwaitis by addressing the traffic problems to ensure smooth and safe vehicular movement in the country.
Al-Shayeji affirmed the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), in cooperation with Kuwait Municipality, had earlier announced its plan to expand a number of highways and main roads, including Al-Maghreb, Fahaheel and Al-Riyadh Highways, in addition to the First and Sixth Ring Roads and bridges to increase the capacity of these roads by 20 to 30 percent to ease traffic jams. He stated the project was presented to the Municipal Council three years ago and published in local newspapers but no concrete step has been taken until now to implement the project. He asked Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Municipality Affairs Fadhel Al-Safar to clarify the issue as people are now wondering whether the project was cancelled or not.
On other developments, the parliamentary Educational Affairs Committee has completed its investigation regarding an article published in Al-Ahram -- an Egyptian newspaper -- which was deemed offensive to Kuwait. Confirming the committee has forwarded a report about the investigation to the Parliament for discussion, Chairman MP Dr Faisal Al-Muslim revealed the committee met Sunday to continue deliberations on the alleged violations at Kuwait University (KU) and Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET).
Al-Muslim disclosed the committee agreed to invite the PAAET director to its meeting on Wednesday.
He has also reiterated calls for anyone with complaints concerning scholarships, promotions, supervisory posts and other issues to help the committee in its quest for truth.
Disclosing the committee will soon look into a proposal to consider teaching a hard job, Al-Muslim said, "we have asked the Finance Affairs Committee to complete its report in this regard and we will send a letter to the Parliament to demand the formation of a joint committee, consisting of representatives from the Finance and Educational Affairs Committees to discuss this issue."
By Abubakar A. Ibrahim
© Arab Times 2009
