Arab Times

Kuwait population 4.180m as of July 20: PACI statistics

- Al-Seyassah Staff By Najeh Bilal

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 19: Recent statistics issued by the Public Authority for Civil Informatio­n (PACI) indicated the population of Kuwait was 4.180 million as of July 20, constituti­ng 1.29 million citizens and 2.88 million expatriate­s.

The report pointed to defect in the population structure, stressing that government must endeavor to create balance between its citizens and expatriate­s while fighting the activities of visa traders rather than increase fees on services provided for expatriate­s to be able to amend the defect, indicating the proposed increase on service fees will only force expatriate­s to leave the country.

Meanwhile, some expatriate­s unanimousl­y agreed that government has every right to implement decisions that serve the interests of the country. However, it shouldn’t burden the expatriate personnel with additional fees for services.

In a chat with Al-Seyassah daily, they indicated the foreign manpower is already encumbered with hikes in fees of health insurance, private schools, rent and food.

For his part, expatriate Jaber Abdul who works in the vegetable market said he takes care of his family of five members plus his mother, and he sells his vegetables cheap in order to cover the cost of his residency and his family’s, so he has no savings.

Ihab Abdul Mitwaly is an accountant who got married recently. He had plans to bring his wife until the fee for dependant visa was increased.

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