Zaidi orders foundation stones laid for 1M land plots by 2027

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. Photo: INA Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi directed local and federal authorities on Wednesday to lay the foundation stones for the ambitious “One Million Residential Plots” initiative (the Watan Initiative) across all governorates before the close of 2026. Chaired by Al-Zaidi, the Seventh Regular Session of the High Commission for Coordination Between Governorates focused on reviewing intergovernmental mechanisms to accelerate infrastructure delivery and streamline stalled development portfolios. According to a press statement released by the Prime Minister’s Media Office and carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the General Coordinator for Provincial Affairs presented a comprehensive operational report confirming that groundbreaking has already taken place across four governorates: Karbala, Najaf, Nineveh, and Anbar. Preparations are finalized for immediate foundation laying in Basra and Maysan, while Saladin, Diyala, and Dhi Qar have completed all statutory and administrative clearances. To expedite delivery, provincial investment commissions were formally empowered to handle technical contracting workflows for the housing rollout. Al-Zaidi also issued directives to accelerate the counterpart initiative allocating one million agricultural plots nationwide. Addressing inter-provincial connectivity and road safety, the Prime Minister ordered the formation of a ministerial steering committee led by the Deputy Prime Minister for Service Affairs, with the Minister of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works and the General Coordinator for Provincial Affairs serving as members. The committee is tasked with conducting an immediate operational audit of arterial highways connecting Iraqi governorates to prioritize widening, resurfacing, congestion relief, and commercial freight optimization. The High Commission adopted a comprehensive package of executive decisions to regulate urban expansion, municipal revenues, and public services: Land-Use Freeze & Master Plans: Imposed a moratorium on all provincial applications regarding land-use reclassification, new investment licensing, and land subdivision (ifraz) pending the comprehensive update of urban master plans. Exemptions apply strictly to public-benefit government service utilities, the Watan Initiative, and certified new residential cities. Housing Utility Hookups: Directed governorates to finance and deliver municipal utility connections (water, power, sanitation) to state housing projects overseen by the Ministry of Construction’s Housing Directorate. Municipal Debt Relief: Recommended a Cabinet resolution granting debtors to municipal bodies a 100% waiver on accrued late fees if the principal balance is settled within six months, scaling down to a 50% waiver if paid within the following six months, prior to legal asset recovery. Emergency Infrastructure Reserves: Approved emergency municipal budget allocations specifically dedicated to rehabilitating and clearing stormwater and wastewater networks ahead of seasonal winter weather. Youth & Sports Funding: Mandated that governorates enforce Clause 4 of Cabinet Resolution No. 23465 of 2023 by allocating at least 5% of subnational revenues (derived from border-crossing tariffs, petrodollar disbursements, and local fees) to youth and athletics, with 50% of this fund earmarked for national sector strategies. Civic Dialogue Framework & Troubled Licenses: Formally ratified the National Strategy to Promote Local Dialogue and Civic Participation in Iraq, while impaneling a specialized investigatory team to review stalled investment permits across Najaf Governorate.