Colonel Bashar Ibrahim Al-Sayed Hashem
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Sahel app committee holds workshop, boosts digital integration
KUWAIT: Thirty-eight government entities providing services through the unified government e-services application “Sahel” convened an extensive coordination workshop on Wednesday, aimed at accelerating the digital integration of services and streamlining procedures for users. Organized by the Sahel application’s Executive Committee, the workshop was held at the General Directorate of Information Systems under the Ministry of Interior. It comes as part of ongoing national efforts to enhance the government’s digital transformation strategy.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Colonel Bashar Ibrahim, Head of the Executive Committee, said the workshop focused on improving the user journey and ensuring smoother procedures across platforms. He noted that the initiative supports broader national objectives to elevate digital government services in the fields of transportation and communications, while promoting synergy among service providers.
“All participating entities are working toward providing a unified, efficient, and user-friendly experience for the public,” he affirmed, stressing the importance of continued coordination and frequent meetings to resolve any technical or procedural hurdles. Highlighting future plans, Tareq Al-Derbas, Advisor to the Minister of State for Communications Affairs and a member of the Executive Committee, described the workshop as a “milestone” in assessing current service levels and activating integrated digital journeys. These include the “Newborn Journey,” “Marriage Journey,” and “Resident Journey,” among others.
A visual presentation during the workshop showcased key performance indicators. Since its launch in September 2021, the Sahel application has facilitated over 91 million services and attracted more than 2.7 million users—figures that reflect growing trust and engagement from both government bodies and the public, Al-Derbas noted. He emphasized the need for government entities to re-engineer their services to align with the standards of digital user journeys, which will boost operational efficiency, minimize bureaucracy, and enhance the overall service experience using data insights from the platform.
Amina Abdul Rahim, another member of the Executive Committee, underscored the urgency of accelerating digital transformation in line with Cabinet Resolution No 135/6-2025. She called on all participating entities to commit to submitting monthly progress reports detailing service development and implementation efforts, with consistent documentation of outcomes.
Meanwhile, committee member Fajr Al-Yassin highlighted that over 40 new services have been launched on the platform in the past six months. Infrastructure upgrades, activation of a central notification system, and the release of the English-language version of the application were also noted as key achievements. Al-Yassin concluded by emphasizing that enhancing the user experience must remain a top priority. “Government agencies must persist in reviewing and developing their services to meet the highest standards of digital governance,” she said. — KUNA
KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel said on Monday that protecting the commercial and industrial system is a “national responsibility that requires concerted efforts.”
Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized in a statement to KUNA following an extensive inspection campaign in the south Amghara scrap yard, to “firmly deal with all violations and encroachments in accordance with legal frameworks where no one is above the law.”
Al-Ajeel confirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns as well until the desired goals are reached, foremost being is restoring order and discipline to the area and removing all violations and encroachments.
He affirmed the ministry and the PAI’s commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities to continue these campaigns to ensure a safe and organized industrial and commercial environment.
The campaign resulted in the seizure of several violations and closure of several non-compliant units in preparation for taking necessary legal action against their exploiters.
Participating in the campaign was General Fire Force (KFF) Chief Major General Talal Al-Roumi, along with several executive leaders from the PAI. — KUNA
CAIRO: The 56th regular session of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights commenced on Monday with the participation of Kuwait and representatives from Arab states concerned with human rights affairs. In his opening address, Ahmed Maghari, supervisor of the Human Rights Department at the League of Arab States, underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling it a stark indicator of the region’s human rights reality. “We cannot speak of the state of human rights without acknowledging the catastrophic conditions faced by our brothers in Gaza, where securing the most basic necessities has become a matter of survival,” he said. Maghari described the ongoing Zionist aggression in Gaza as a profound moral and humanitarian challenge, noting that the Palestinian people continue to endure daily suffering under constant bombardment, displacement and destruction. He lamented the international community’s continued inaction in the face of clear violations of international law and human rights norms. “The occupying power persists in defying international legitimacy and the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice,” he said.
The 56th session of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights kicks off, chaired by Kuwait.- KUNA photos
Held at a time of mounting regional tensions, the session comes amid escalating challenges that directly affect fundamental human rights. Maghari highlighted the Committee’s historic role since its establishment in 1968 in developing the Arab human rights framework both legally and practically, while also fostering cooperation with regional and international partners. He expressed hope that the session would yield effective recommendations to help confront the pressing challenges in the region. He pointed to the rise of conflicts and violence globally, along with the resulting serious human rights violations, as major concerns.
Emerging issues such as the intersection of human rights with climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of alien ideologies that undermine human dignity were also noted. “In light of these challenges, we must reinforce our solidarity and collective action to enhance peace, stability, and the security of our societies,” Maghari added. The two-day session, chaired by Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights, will review the General Secretariat’s report on the implementation of previous recommendations up to the 55th session.
Discussions will also focus on Zionist violations in occupied Arab territories, the plight of Arab prisoners and detainees in Zionist prisons, and the issue of the bodies of Palestinian and Arab martyrs held in so-called “numbered cemeteries.” Other agenda items include the Arab Charter on Human Rights and preparations for Arab Human Rights Day, which will be observed on March 16, 2026. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah.— KUNA
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