KUWAIT: The ministerial security committee has announced plans to look into suggestions regarding the taxi situation in Kuwait and the noticeable increase in licensing that has been issued to them as well as its effects on traffic and the demographic imbalance. "The suggestion enlisted is part of a main report made by the traffic higher council and has gained the approval from the management in the interior ministry. We are waiting for a security committee to look into the plans for confirmation as it is connected to many other sectors such as transportation and investment," sources told Kuwait Times.

"The report also requires limiting taxi jobs to retired Kuwaitis, stateless residents, children of Kuwaiti mothers and GCC residents only, as there is a high demand for this job. Moreover, retired Kuwaitis will be allowed to drive their taxis with individual licenses without having to work for a taxi company," sources added.

Meanwhile, sources also said that, "The taxi market needs to be organized as soon as possible as the large number of taxis causes disturbance to traffic as there are more than 20,000 taxi vehicles, with many violations reported against them." "More than 20,000 expatriates currently work as taxi drivers in specific areas which is causing a disturbance in residential areas as well, as it has a negative impact on the environment due to their numbers and the old vehicles that they drive," sources added.

Sources also said that, "licenses for expatriate taxis will not be given to new arrivals and will instead be replaced with retired Kuwaitis, stateless residents, children of Kuwaiti mothers and GCC nationals, as they are already in the country which will be positive for the population demographic." "The suggestion will not hurt businessmen who run taxi agencies because it does not mean the cancellation of their services, but they will continue to function within the same regulations but with the rule of limiting the number of taxis per company," sources added.