Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has instructed authorities to address the challenges faced by truck drivers, recognizing the significance of this sector in bolstering economic activity and development. A statement from his media office noted that Al-Sudani met with the head of the Truck Drivers' Union in Iraq and several union members to discuss the primary obstacles they encounter. He underscored the necessity for immediate solutions and the encouragement of private sector involvement in transportation.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Prime Minister reviewed recommendations from the Customs Reform Team, established under Diwani Order (250613). These recommendations are set to be discussed in a meeting scheduled for tomorrow to develop implementation strategies aimed at easing truck movement across border crossings, customs offices, and external checkpoints.

Key recommendations include activating smart weighing stations on highways and city entrances connected to electronic payment systems, empowering the Border Crossings Authority to block non-compliant trucks, and permitting trucks from the Kurdistan Region carrying locally produced goods to bypass sonar inspections. Factories and projects are to display trademarks visibly on local products, and truck procedures at border crossings should be completed within 24 hours to eliminate overnight stays in trade exchange yards.

The recommendations also call for the Customs Authority's presence in remote-control rooms for sonar devices at customs offices, adopting the final delivery note of goods as an official document, with provisions for an additional note post-redistribution, and allowing freight trucks to operate continuously on the (Nukhayb - International Highway km 160) route.