Expats may have to clear all debts before traveling

Expats may have to clear all debts before traveling

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: Top officials from the interior ministry on Wednesday met with their counterparts from the ministries of communications and justice to coordinate a linkup to ensure that expats pay their bills before leaving the country. The interior ministry last week told expats, who constitute almost 70 percent of the population, to settle all their traffic tickets before they can leave the country.

With the exception of fines for speeding and parking in spaces for the handicapped, which must be paid at traffic offices, all other tickets can be paid online or at exit points including airports. The measure was imposed on Aug 19. Electricity and water bills have been added to the list and the measure will become effective on Sept 1. No expat will be allowed to leave the country before paying their electricity bills.

The purpose of the meeting on Wednesday was to make similar arrangements to force expats to pay bills to the ministries of communications and justice before being allowed to leave Kuwait. The government plans to extend the measure to all other ministries so expats must pay all utility bills before departing the country. Meanwhile, MP Jarrah Al-Fouzan on Wednesday asked the commerce and industry