MPW using ISO-certified Qatari laboratory

Citizens, expats spent about KD 24 billion last year

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 10: The Ministry of Public Works has started using an ISO-certified Qatari laboratory to benefit from the expertise of the GCC country, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The Qatar National Road Research Laboratory has examined several samples of asphalt mixtures used in the maintenance of roads, and examined samples of new road projects to indicate their condition, the sources said.

The sources explained the Qatari laboratory, which will be accredited by the Kuwaiti government to contractors and consulting offices until completion of the development of the Kuwaiti road laboratory, has in turn sent samples of Kuwaiti botulinum to an Italian laboratory.

The tests have also confirmed the samples to the specifications of the approved mixture, and that the problem as proved by the investigations rests in the manner of implementation, and supervision mixing and control of these components, especially as the asphalt plants in the country are owned by contractors who win contracts for roads maintenance.

The sources said the purpose of using the Qatari side (the delegation from Qatar is visiting for the third time since the start of the cooperation) is to ensure neutrality of the party which has sufficient experience.

The sources called for the need to develop a new mechanism at the level of implementation of road projects and not depend only on design and supervision during the implementation of road projects.

Citizens and expatriates spent about KD 24 billion ($79.5 billion) last year – around KD 2 billion ($6.6 billion) higher than their expenditures in 2017, reports AlRai daily.

The daily culled these figures from reports released by the Central Bank of Kuwait, disclosing the expenditures of citizens and expatriates in 2018 totaled KD 23.8 billion – 8.1 percent or KD 1.7 billion increase compared to the amount they spent in 2017 (KD 22.06 billion).

The direct expenditures of citizens and expatriates using their ATM and credit cards increased by KD 1.4 billion (14.3 percent) – KD 11.4 billon compared to KD 10 billion in 2017.

Expenditures through sales points increased by KD 1.3 billion (14 percent) – KD10.4 billion compared to KD 9.1 billion in 2017.

Expenditures on goods and services abroad exceeded one billion Kuwaiti dinars, while payment using ATM and credit cards abroad increased by KD128.6 million (14 percent) – KD 1.04 billion compared to KD 918 million in 2017.

ATM withdrawals in and outside the country increased by KD 350.9 million (2.9 percent) – KD 12.37 billion compared to KD12.02 billion in 2017.

ATM transactions inside the country increased by KD 347.6 million (2.9 percent) – KD12 billion compared to KD 11.6 in 2017.

Cash withdrawals abroad increased by KD 3.3 million (0.9 percent) – KD 366 million compared KD 362.7 million in 2017.