The Cabinet holds the 10th Regular Session, including decisions

INA - BAGHDAD

The Cabinet holds on Tuesday, the 10th Regular Session chaired by PM Muhammed S. Al-Sudani.

During the session, the general situation in the country was discussed, along with various service, economic, and social files. Additionally, topics listed on the agenda were deliberated, and necessary decisions were made regarding them, according to a statement by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.

Al-Sudani summarized his recent visit to Nineveh province, focusing on the Sinjar and Tal Afar districts. He discussed the service projects underway, the challenges encountered, and the inauguration of Rabia Hospital, as well as the launch of the Al Ghazlani Residential City project. 

He emphasized the need to address the displacement crisis, enhance service ministry activities, and facilitate the return of displaced persons by reopening all service and administrative departments.

The Prime Minister highlighted issues in the allocation of funds for provincial projects, emphasizing the need for fairer service distribution and the elimination of political influence, biases, and discrimination. He insisted on strict adherence to legal frameworks. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of caring for the infrastructure in Tal Afar district, which needs sewage networks. 

Al-Sudani reviewed the Bismayah city project, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on its success and ensuring the provision of essential requirements for the completion of housing units, given that all administrative and financial approvals are secured. He acknowledged noticeable delays in delivering some services to the residents of the project's first phase and instructed all relevant ministries to collaborate in devising comprehensive plans to support and service the residents of Bismayah.

He extended congratulations to Iraqis and the Islamic community on the forthcoming Ramadan, expressing hopes for enduring peace and stability in Iraq. For the holy month, he instructed service ministries and agencies to implement actions aimed at supporting citizens, including:

- Continuing and enhancing efforts by the Ministries of Trade and Agriculture to tackle the rising meat prices and mitigate their impact on the populace.
- Enriching the food ration card and basket with extra items to reduce citizens' financial strain.
- Pausing loan repayments for employees and retirees for a month.
- Providing quality meals for the armed forces and encouraging leaders to partake in Ramadan observances with their units.
- Mandating all state departments to assess and fulfill the needs of nursing and shelter homes, ensuring comprehensive care.
- Urging the private sector and business entities to show solidarity, and offering support to ease the hardships faced by vulnerable and impoverished groups during Ramadan.

In following up on housing projects, the Cabinet approved empowering the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works to contract with relevant entities for investing in housing projects referred to investment in all provinces.

The Cabinet revised the contracting limit from a prior decision, increasing it to three trillion Iraqi dinars. This adjustment allows for the continuation of contractual processes for traffic alleviation projects, including the first package of projects, ensuring their budgeting within the 2024 fiscal plan without the need for extra funding.

The Cabinet consented to forward the Investment and Partnership Instructions bill to the State Council for examination, directing coordination with relevant entities within a two-week timeframe.

The Cabinet addressed multiple items on their agenda, making the following decisions:
1. Approved the allocation of land for the Police Academy, following the Ministry of Interior/Directorate of Engineering Works' Decision No. 69 of 2022.
2. Recommended that the Parliament retract the bill amending the General Census of Population and Housing Law No. 40 of 2008, previously submitted by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet on February 2, 2020, and revoke Decision No. 256 of 2019.
3. Endorsed the inclusion of the Minister of Migration and Displacement and the Head of the Statistics and Geographic Information Systems Authority in the Ministerial Council for Human Development, aligning with the Cabinet's internal regulations.
4. Sanctioned the annulment of the fifth paragraph of Cabinet Resolution No. 92 of 2020, which pertains to the issuance of medical, health, and nursing profession certificates. This change authorizes the unconditional issuance of these certificates to individuals appointed to the Ministry of Health and other ministries' staff, those who have exited service, and the unemployed, in response to requests by the Ministry of Health dated October 4, 2023, and February 19, 2024.

In the context of following up on infrastructure and service projects, and completing delayed projects, the Cabinet decided the following:

First : Approving the following:
   - Increase the total cost of the (Al-Awqaf Overpass Intersection in Ramadi) project to become (21.025.212.000 dinars).
   - The Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works is responsible for the accuracy of the data and information sent to the Ministry of Planning.

Second: 
1. The total cost for the project focused on preparing and implementing the conveyor line for rainwater drainage in the southern region of Fallujah has been adjusted to 137,520,923,346 Iraqi dinars.
2. The expert committees within the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works are tasked with determining the pricing of items and establishing specifications, given their authority in these matters.
3. Raise the project budget for building a heavy rainwater sewer network with lift stations in Al-Abbas, Al-Sumoud 1, and Al-Sumoud 2 neighborhoods, Alkabinat, to 70,107,975,971 dinars. The Salah al-Din Governorate must ensure the data and information accuracy submitted to the Ministry of Planning.
4. Adjust the total cost for the paving project in neighborhood no. 225 of Al-Zuhour district to 4,548,800,300 dinars. Elevate the total expenditure for the paving projects in neighborhoods 215 and 225 of Al-Zuhour district to 9,183,922,800 dinars. The Baghdad Governorate is fully accountable for the supplementary items and the costs beyond the project's sanctioned budget.