MoI: No fines for expired iqamas, visas driving licenses

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: The interior
ministry said yesterday that the immigration department will not collect any
fines from residence and visa violators during the government shutdown over the
coronavirus. Assistant undersecretary for Residency Affairs Maj Gen Talal
Maarafi said expats in the country whose visit visas – commercial, tourist or
family – have expired will be allowed to leave the country without paying any
fine when commercial flights resume.

He also said that
expats on private sector iqamas will not be fined if their residencies expire
during the shutdown, but he said that companies can renew the residencies of
their staff online. The same applies to residence permits for domestic helpers.

The traffic department
also said people who do not renew their expired driving licenses or their
vehicle registration will not be fined during the shutdown. The ministry said
people can still renew their driving licenses online during the shutdown but
delivery will be made after March 29. Policemen have been instructed not to
issue tickets to such drivers.

The new measures come
a day after the council of ministers announced exceptional measures by
declaring a two-week public holiday and halting commercial flights indefinitely
from midnight on Friday. Reports however said some 100 expatriates who arrived
from London yesterday were returned on the same flights. Some 255 Kuwaitis also
arrived onboard six flights from various destinations.

Commerce and Industry Minister  Khaled Al-Roudhan said yesterday that the country has sufficient food reserves and there was no need to panic or rush for unnecessary shopping.

The ministry of health
meanwhile reported eight new coronavirus cases, raising the number to 80, at
least five of them have been cured and released. The ministry said that all
health and emergency departments will continue to operate normally to cope with
demand.

National Assembly
Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said the Assembly respects the measures taken by the
government to protect the country from the coronavirus, and called on
government officials to appear more in the media to explain the situation.

Reports cited banking
sources as saying that local banks will exempt debtors from paying instalments
for three months. The facility applies to those who have taken consumer loans.

MP Yousef Al-Fadhalah
said MPs discussed yesterday holding a special session to approve legislation
needed for the current situation.

Air ticket prices
meanwhile increased several-fold after the government decided to halt
commercial flights. A ticket to London, for example, which cost less than KD
150 before the closure, was being sold for around KD 700. Many flights have
also been cancelled.