KUWAIT: Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Abdullatif Al-Meshari on Monday stressed the urgent need to establish labor cities to address the deteriorating situation in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. His remarks came following an inspection tour of the area, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing long-term solutions focused on urban planning, infrastructure, security and housing — sectors that have increasingly deviated from their intended purposes.

Accompanying the minister on the tour were Farwaniya Governor Sheikh Athbi Al-Nasser Al-Sabah, Acting Director General of the Municipality Manal Al-Asfour, Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Council Khaled Al-Mutairi, Chairwoman of the Council’s Environmental Affairs Committee Alia Al-Farsi, municipal representatives from Farwaniya governorate, and representatives from the ministry of public works.

Sheikh Athbi highlighted the critical need to address the situation in Jleeb, noting the area’s proximity to vital government facilities, including Kuwait International Airport, Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium and Kuwait University. Al-Farsi called for urgent solutions to the issues in the area. She stressed Jleeb is a “buried pearl” with a unique geographic location and that “its current situation is inappropriate for the future of Kuwait”.

The visit was the outcome of a recent workshop organized by the Municipal Council’s environmental affairs committee, which produced eight key recommendations for immediate implementation. Chief among them was a call for a joint field visit involving all relevant government bodies. These recommendations, which were later approved by the Municipal Council and endorsed by the minister, were thoroughly discussed and responsibilities assigned among stakeholders.

The range of proposed actions include enforcement of Kuwait Municipality and Environment Public Authority regulations related to hygiene and sanitation, enhancement of oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with municipal laws, immediate removal of violations and formulation of an emergency plan to address infrastructure deficiencies such as potholes and a deteriorating sewage network. Additional focus was placed on resolving issues related to overcrowding and misuse of real estate.

Officials emphasized that the responsibility for resolving these challenges cannot rest with a single body. Instead, it requires coordinated efforts from the Municipality, ministry of public works, ministry of interior, Environmental Public Authority, Public Authority of Manpower, Public Authority for Civil Information and ministry of health, among others.

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, often overlooked despite its strategic location, holds immense developmental potential. However, its current condition remains far from reflecting Kuwait’s developmental aspirations. Officials agreed that the area’s administrative and service structures both influence and are shaped by the lifestyles and behaviors of its residents. They affirmed that a range of viable solutions exists and must be systematically explored and implemented. From environmental, health, and security standpoints, they stressed that inaction is no longer an option. – Agencies