Latest news with #LawNo.32of1982
Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
Addresses of 500 Residents Deleted, Failure to Update Will Incur KD 100 Fine
KUWAIT CITY, June 8: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has deleted the residential addresses of 500 expats from its official records, either with the consent of property owners or due to the demolition of the buildings. PACI has called on the affected individuals to update their residential information within 30 days, either by visiting the authority in person or through the "Sahel" mobile application, after submitting the required supporting documents. The authority warned that failure to complete the address registration process within the specified timeframe will result in a fine of KD 100 per person, under Article 33 of Law No. 32 of 1982.
Arab Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Black Market for Fake Addresses Booms Amid PACI Crackdown in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, April 28: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has been intensifying its efforts to combat fake addresses, canceling thousands of registrations after discovering that many individuals were not living at the addresses they had listed. In its latest move, PACI announced the cancellation of the addresses of 531 individuals, urging them to update their information within 30 days or face penalties as per Article 33 of Law No. 32 of 1982. However, these measures have inadvertently led to the emergence of a black market, particularly affecting the large Asian worker community in Kuwait. This underground market has seen extortion in its most exploitative form, with "Address Merchants" preying on workers in need of a fake address to complete the process of obtaining a civil ID. The price for a single fake address ranges from 100 to 150 Kuwaiti dinars. Many workers pay this fee, only to discover that their names are removed from the registered address after a few months by PACI, leaving it available for another person, and the cycle of fraud continues. One worker shared that he had purchased an address for 100 dinars, only to find it invalid after three months. When he contacted the sellers to resolve the issue, they demanded an additional payment for a new address, continuing the exploitation. The rise of this black market is linked to PACI's crackdown on residency traders. The introduction of stricter regulations, such as limiting the number of workers allowed per apartment, has revealed that many Asian workers cannot provide legitimate housing addresses due to their communal living conditions, often exceeding the capacity set by PACI. Observers noted that these regulations, aimed at curbing residency trafficking, have only worsened the problem. The authorities' attempts to close loopholes in the system have uncovered a widespread issue where many workers are unable to find legal housing that they can register on their civil IDs. This has opened the door to exploitation by individuals profiting from the sale of fake addresses. PACI's recent announcement in the Official Gazette highlighted the cancellation of 531 addresses, demanding that individuals affected by this move visit PACI to update their information. Those who fail to do so within the 30-day period will face fines up to 100 dinars, as stipulated by the law. This crackdown follows a directive from Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, which mandates that the address on the civil ID must match the actual residence of the cardholder. Since the fire in Mangaf, PACI has been focusing its efforts on areas with a high concentration of expatriates, such as Hawalli, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, and Mahboula. The surveys conducted in these areas revealed a high number of individuals registered at fictitious addresses. As a result, PACI has been canceling these addresses in batches, and the official Gazette now regularly publishes the names of individuals whose addresses have been invalidated. To facilitate the update process, PACI has set up external centers to handle the growing demand. However, the high volume of people needing to update their addresses has led to congestion and delays in appointments. Individuals must submit several documents, including a lease contract, proof of property ownership, and a completed residency declaration form, either in person at PACI's headquarters or via the 'Sahel' app. The crackdown on fake addresses is part of PACI's broader effort to ensure public safety, improve service delivery, and bolster the security infrastructure in Kuwait. By ensuring that civil ID addresses correspond with actual residences, PACI aims to improve the accuracy of its records and aid in law enforcement's ability to track individuals, enhancing security in the country.
Arab Times
13-04-2025
- Arab Times
PACI Deletes Addresses of 325 Expats, Urges Update Within 30 Days
KUWAIT CITY, April 13: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has announced the removal of residential addresses for 325 individuals from its official records. This action was taken either upon request by the property owner or due to the demolition of the building in which the individuals were registered. In an announcement published in the Kuwait Alyoum, the authority urged all affected individuals to visit PACI offices and update their information by registering a new residential address. This update must be completed within 30 days from the date of the announcement and must be accompanied by all required supporting documents. PACI emphasized that failure to comply within the specified timeframe will result in penalties as outlined in Article 33 of Law No. 32 of 1982. The law imposes a fine of up to KD 100 per individual, with the fine amount multiplied according to the number of affected persons.
