Basra: Members of Parliament from Basra have called on the Ministry of Finance to urgently provide the province with its required financial and service entitlements. Basra MP Abdul Amir Al-Mayahi emphasized that the province’s issues can no longer endure further delays and stressed the need for moving from mere correspondence to actual funding and implementation.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the demands were made during a visit by several Basra MPs to the Ministry of Finance, where they met with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Water Resources. Al-Mayahi highlighted critical issues, including the 13,000 and 19,000 job positions, contractual positions, education sector appointments, port contracts, and files concerning doctors and scholarship recipients. He insisted on resolving these issues to prevent families from being left in uncertainty due to prolonged procedures.

Al-Mayahi further addressed the ongoing water crisis in Basra, urging immediate funding for the Al-Bid’ah project and the R0 station, and support for the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure the delivery of safe drinking water. He pointed out that this crisis is a significant aspect of the province’s suffering and should not be deferred annually.

The discussion also covered projects submitted by Basra to the Ministry of Planning, such as the Karma-Qurna (Sidein) road, the Greater Qurna project, and hospitals in Zubair, Haritha, and Abu al-Khasib. Al-Mayahi stressed the importance of allocating funds to these projects to avoid further delays.

Additionally, Al-Mayahi demanded the release of Basra’s accumulated petrodollar share and border crossing revenues, which have not been disbursed since the beginning of the year. He highlighted the paradox of Basra, a major contributor to the state treasury, facing stalled projects and underfunded schools and hospitals. The province requires approximately 800 school buildings to eliminate double shifts and address the shortage of educational facilities.

The Minister of Finance, in response, affirmed his commitment to support Basra within the constraints of available resources. He noted that the province’s rights should be realized through funding and tangible results rather than promises.