Following his visit to the provinces of Sulaymaniyah and Halabja on June 30, 2024, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced several significant decisions aimed at addressing the concerns of local residents and administrative officials. The initiatives unveiled during his visit promise to bring substantial changes to the administrative and infrastructural landscape of these regions.

Key Initiatives in Halabja

During his time in Halabja, Prime Minister Barzani laid the foundation stone for a new silo, marking the beginning of a project that is expected to enhance the province's agricultural storage capacity. In his discussions with local officials, he explored various challenges facing the community and emphasized the government's commitment to addressing these issues.

Employment and Administrative Changes

Prime Minister Barzani announced the approval of 52 contract employees for various offices in Halabja, facilitating smoother administrative operations. Additionally, 23 vehicles were provided to bolster the provincial administration's capacity.

Revenue and Budget Enhancements

The government approved the allocation of 20% of the revenue generated from Halabja's border gates to the provincial administration, significantly increasing the budget advances for the province. Emergency spending authorities were also granted to provincial and governorate offices, empowering them to respond more swiftly to urgent needs.

Infrastructure and Border Improvements

One of the critical decisions was the request sent to federal authorities to officially recognize the Sazan border crossing in Halabja, fulfilling a long-standing demand from local officials. Moreover, the establishment of the Halabja Customs Directorate was approved, which is expected to streamline cross-border trade operations.

Developments in Sulaymaniyah

In Sulaymaniyah, Prime Minister Barzani focused on improving administrative efficiency and infrastructure.

Employee Transfers and Assignments

Prime Minister Barzani approved the transfer and assignment of government employees across various sectors, excluding the Ministries of Peshmerga, Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research. This initiative enables the governors of Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, and the Independent Administrations of Garmian and Raparin to issue service transfer orders and assignments for two years, addressing staffing imbalances across these regions.

Employment Opportunities

The government approved 177 contract employees for employment across different offices in Sulaymaniyah, including legal employees for the Sulaymaniyah Governorate, surveyors for the General Directorate of Agriculture, and staff for the Sulaymaniyah Municipality and International Airport.

Financial Autonomy and Project Funding

The governor has been granted the authority to allocate 30% of the province's revenue for small service projects, send personnel on missions abroad for up to 30 days, and utilize government halls free of charge for province-supported activities. Additionally, the governor can determine contracting methods for projects up to one billion dinars and manage increased budget advances.

Infrastructure Enhancements

Prime Minister Barzani approved over 5 billion dinars for service projects, equipment, and supplies for various offices in Sulaymaniyah. Substantial funding was directed to the General Directorate of Sulaymaniyah International Airport for aviation surveys, X-ray equipment, firefighting vehicles, and service vehicles. The establishment of the Bazian Environmental Center was also approved, aiming to address environmental concerns in the region.

Administrative Jurisdiction

In a move to improve local governance, the municipality of Tuwa Spi was transferred to the Sulaymaniyah jurisdiction, allowing for enhanced service delivery in the area.

Support for the Independent Administration of Raparin

For the Independent Administration of Raparin, emergency expenditures and budget advances were significantly increased for the districts of Raparin, Ranya, and Pishdar. Prime Minister Barzani approved the employment of 43 contract employees across various specialties and provided 13 vehicles to support the administration and governorates.

Initiatives in the Garmian Independent Administration

The government tripled the advances and emergency expenditures for the Garmian administration from 26 million to 78 million dinars. Additionally, 133 contract employees were approved for various roles in Garmian.

Land and Development Projects

A letter was sent to the Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism to resolve land disputes involving plots known as "Box Land." The government will provide land to the heirs of martyrs, Anfal victims, political prisoners, and survivors of the Anfal campaign in areas outside the government's control. Furthermore, Prime Minister Barzani approved 39 projects to be transferred from the development budget to the investment budget of relevant ministries and authorized the issuance of licenses for three gas stations in Garmian.

These decisions reflect Prime Minister Barzani's commitment to addressing the needs of the citizens in Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, Raparin, and Garmian. By empowering local administrations and enhancing infrastructure, the ninth cabinet aims to serve the people of these regions effectively and ensure sustained development.