Baghdad: Ammar al-Hakim, head of the National State Forces Alliance, underscored the pressing need to prioritize the payment of employee salaries and the dues owed to farmers and contractors. During a meeting with Finance Minister Faleh al-Sari, al-Hakim discussed the critical financial situation Iraq is grappling with amidst an ongoing economic crisis.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, a statement from the alliance detailed the discussions, highlighting the importance of crafting a program-based budget aimed at specific sectors based on priority. Al-Hakim advocated for this period to be used strategically to diversify Iraq’s income sources and bolster state efforts to enhance revenues by increasing production and expanding oil export channels.

The statement further noted al-Hakim’s call for advancements in the banking sector through the adoption of modern technologies, support for small projects to spur job creation, and the need for cohesive operations with entities like the Central Bank and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit. Emphasizing the importance of settling employee salaries and dues to farmers and contractors, he articulated how this would sustain development, boost production cycles, create employment, and support land reclamation. Al-Hakim also highlighted the significance of backing the agricultural sector as a multifaceted necessity encompassing economic, social, and environmental dimensions.