Baghdad: Finance Minister Faleh Sari affirmed on Thursday that the budget preparation process is being conducted through continuous technical work with the participation of various stakeholders. According to National Iraqi News Agency, the ministry released a statement highlighting that Minister Sari chaired an expanded meeting of the committees tasked with drafting the program and performance budget. This meeting saw the involvement of members from the Parliamentary Finance Committee and representatives from several ministries and international organizations, focusing on the budget preparation stages and transitioning to the program and performance methodology.

The statement noted that the minister underscored the importance of the continuous technical work in budget preparation, involving various stakeholders. He highlighted ongoing meetings with legislative members and representatives of ministries and governorates, which aim to enhance budget transparency and ensure all relevant parties are involved at each stage.

Minister Sari explained the role of five specialized subcommittees in preparing the technical aspects of the draft budget. These subcommittees are working in cooperation with the World Bank to establish a comprehensive framework for the new budget, adhering to a specific timeline.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the government program approved by the Council of Ministers is a fundamental element in preparing the program and performance budget. This ensures that programs and financial allocations align with government priorities and objectives.

The statement concluded with representatives expressing their support for transitioning to a program and performance-based budget. They stressed the importance of its success and the development of implementation mechanisms to enhance the efficiency of public finance management.