Al-Zaidi Lauds Tangible Progress in the Million Residential Land Plot Project

Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi confirmed today, Monday, that tangible progress has been made in the "One Million Residential Land Plot Project," which aims to provide sustainable solutions to the country's housing crisis. This affirmation came during Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi's chairmanship of the third session of the High Commission for Coordination Among Governorates for the year 2026. The session, attended by several ministers, the director of the Prime Minister's office, the general coordinator for governorate affairs, governors, heads of governorate councils, and a number of advisors, witnessed a comprehensive discussion of the general conditions in the governorates, including service and livelihood aspects, as well as a review of various topics and files on the agenda. At the outset of the session, the Prime Minister emphasized the vital role of local governments in delivering services and governmental administration, considering governors as the first line of contact with citizens who aspire to receive appropriate services, away from any political disputes. Al-Zaidi clarified that "the federal government and local governments represent a single body in the state, and each governorate is concerned with establishing appropriate mechanisms to achieve local development through investment attraction." The Prime Minister also stressed the necessity of overcoming bureaucracy that impedes work completion, highlighting the importance of supporting security forces in performing their duties that strengthen stability. In his discussion of the residential land project, he pointed to the progress achieved in this crucial initiative, explaining that the criteria for distributing the one million residential land plots among governorates would be based on population size and poverty rates, thereby ensuring fairness and maximizing benefits for the largest segment of beneficiaries. The session resulted in the adoption of a series of important decisions and recommendations, most notably: 1. **Addressing the Housing Crisis:** Approval was granted for allocating residential land plots to those covered by the Political Prisoners Foundation Law, in accordance with legal priorities and effective instructions. 2. **Maximizing Local Governorate Revenues:** The session approved the formation of specialized committees from relevant authorities in the governorates, headed by the Assistant General Coordinator for Governorate Affairs. These committees are tasked with preparing a comprehensive strategy for maximizing local revenues, with recommendations to be submitted to the High Commission for Coordination Among Governorates for approval. 3. **Providing Chlorine for Water Projects:** A decision was issued for governorates and the Baghdad Municipality to procure this essential material through import to meet immediate actual needs, pending the completion of the expansion projects for the Al-Furat factory. The Ministry of Industry and Minerals is committed to completing the increase in the production capacity of the ministry's factories according to a specified timeline. 4. **Regarding the Same Matter:** The third quarterly report on drinking water in the governorates, including its accompanying recommendations, was approved. 5. **Developing the Health Sector:** The proposals from the Ministry of Health were approved. These include forming a rapid intervention medical team comprising all specialties to operate in the governorates during crises and mass visits. Neighboring governorates are also committed to providing logistical support and facilitating operations department detachments for medical evacuation implementation. 6. **Training New Graduates:** It was approved to train new graduates from medical faculties (Al-Mustansiriya, Al-Nahrain, Ibn Sina) in their respective governorates of residence, without the need to return to Baghdad Governorate. 7. **Governors' Powers:** Governors were granted the authority to request the lifting of agricultural reform jurisdiction, in accordance with approved procedures and controls. 8. **Weighing Station Revenues:** The recommendations of the committee formed regarding the governorates' share of weighing station revenues were approved. The Ministry of Construction and Housing will amend the instructions for operating central weighing stations to specify the governorate's share of collected revenues at 50%, in line with the amended Financial Management Law No. 6 of 2019. 9. **Enhancing Municipal Service Efficiency:** It was decided that the Ministry of Construction and Housing would form teams, with the participation of a representative from the Coordination Commission between Governorates, to review delivered services, identify problems and obstacles facing municipal work, and submit appropriate reports and recommendations. 10. **Stalled Investment Licenses:** The recommendations of the committee formed concerning the Karbala Commercial and Recreational Gate project and the Iwan Residential Towers complex project were approved. 11. **Stalled Agricultural Projects:** It was decided to form a committee tasked with investigating the reasons for the non-signing of contracts and non-delivery of land for projects (Riyadh Al-Furatain for Agricultural Investments, Strategic Seed Cultivation and Poultry Farms, and a Cattle Station, Calf Rearing, and Strategic Crop Cultivation).