Basra: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has emphasized the importance of a fair distribution of social benefits derived from oil activities, with a particular focus on areas suffering from environmental damage. A statement from his media office detailed that Al-Sudani led a meeting to discuss service provisions in the northern districts of Basra Governorate, with attendees including the Minister of Environment, the Governor of Basra, and representatives from the Ministries of Oil and Planning.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting covered solutions for water and wastewater pollution, the acceleration of treatment plant construction, and the identification of sanitary landfill sites. The possibility of using waste to generate electricity was also explored. Al-Sudani underscored the need for equitable social benefit distribution from oil activities, with increased attention to environmentally impacted areas. He highlighted the importance of following up on hospital project implementations, accelerating the construction of a 200-bed hospital, and allocating land for additional health centers.

In efforts to enhance infrastructure, the meeting emphasized expanding service and engineering activities in northern Basra, resolving issues with the earth quarry in Al-Sadiq District, and addressing delays in completing the Ezz Al-Din Salim Bridge approaches. The Prime Minister urged the implementing company to expedite work on these projects.

Al-Sudani remarked that this meeting sends a positive message to citizens, particularly in northern Basra, indicating that both federal and local governments, along with relevant ministries, are attentive to their needs and are working towards solutions with set timelines. He directed attendees and authorities to formulate a clear action plan based on the meeting’s outcomes, increase coordination between implementing agencies and the Basra Governorate, and intensify meetings to overcome previous obstacles and provide necessary services.