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KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti government on Monday approved a draft decree to establish a central body to address the status of people living in Kuwait illegally
, as well as approving the creation of shareholding companies tasked with building power and water desalination stations. The cabinet, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, decided that the new body dealing with the issue of illegal residents, to be headed by Saleh Yousef Al-Fadhala Al-Sabah, will take all the necessary measures to reach a comprehensive solution on this issue, said First Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah in a statement delivered after Monday's meeting. He explained that the new central body will be mandated with completely solving outstanding security, humanitarian, legal, social and economic issues of people living in Kuwait illegally. The Deputy Director General of the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), Sheikh Khaled Mubarak Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, has been assigned as Secretary General of the new body, said Sheikh Jaber. Also during Monday's meeting, the cabinet approved the final draft of the bill for the establishment of Kuwaiti shareholding companies mandated with constructing power and water desalination stations in the country. The formula specifies the distribution of shares, the bidding procedures, a commitment to train and employ Kuwaitis, safety procedures and environmental protection measures. The approved final draft has been submitted in the form of a decree to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for approval. On another issue, finance minister Mustafa Al-Shimali briefed the cabinet about the projects being undertaken by the Public Institute For Social Security (PIFSS) in the 2011-12 period. Al-Shimali explained that these projects include increasing the basic state pension from KD 1,250 to KD 1,500, as well as amending PIFSS-related legislation and insurance schemes for unemployed Kuwaitis previously employed in the private and oil sectors. Sheikh Jaber explained that the cabinet had approved the projects and instructed Al-Shimali to proceed with the executive measures. On a separate issue, the cabinet approved Sunday, November 14, as a public holiday for public sector workers since it falls between Mount Arafat Day and Eid Al-Adha. The cabinet also congratulated HH the Amir and HH the Crown Prince on the advent of Eid Al-Adha. The council of ministers also noted a number of communiqu�s from leading figures, including the Pakistani President and Chairman of the OIC's Standing Committee of Scientific and Technological Cooperation, Asif Ali Zardari, as well as the President of Sierra Leone and the King of Bhutan on bilateral relations. It also noted further communiqu�s from the Prime Minister of Lesotho and the President of Kyrgyzstan to Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser regarding bilateral ties. The government formally welcomed the visit of Spanish King Juan Carlos I to Kuwait, which began yesterday. HH Sheikh Nasser also briefed the cabinet about the outcome of Swiss Vice President and foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey's recent visit, and her talks with Kuwaiti officials. - Kuwait Times
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