Baghdad: The Council of Ministers convened its 33rd regular session today, chaired by Council Speaker Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, to deliberate on the prevailing national situation and to address agenda items.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Sudani commenced the session by acknowledging the successful execution of the Arbaeen pilgrimage of Imam Hussein. He noted the formation of the Supreme Committee for Million-Pilgrimage Pilgrimages, which has enhanced infrastructure, with ongoing work on 41 out of 100 service projects, including roads and transportation.

The Council evaluated agenda topics and made essential decisions. It approved in principle the extension of Resolution No. (550) of 2025 to finance the salaries of Kurdistan Region of Iraq employees for June. Additionally, it addressed traffic safety by endorsing recommendations from the Traffic Accident Study Committee to curb accident-related casualties.

To address water issues in Basra Governorate, the Council authorized the Ministry of Finance to allocate 2 billion dinars to the Basra Water Directorate from July 1 to December 31, 2025, to cover water tariff lists, alleviating the financial strain on residents due to high water salinity.

In the energy sector, the Council empowered the Ministry of Electricity to addend the contract for a dry gas pipeline to the Anbar Combined Cycle Power Plant project with Chinese firm SEPCOIII, covering a 250 km stretch from the Akkas field to the T1 station.

The Council advanced the draft law on scientific associations and the draft unified sports law, both reviewed by the State Council, to the Council of Representatives, aligning with constitutional requirements.

The Council approved responses to the self-assessment questionnaire for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, allowing the National Committee to submit them to the UN Convention Programme’s platform.

Furthermore, the Council initially sanctioned the National Plan for International Humanitarian Law, crafted by the Permanent National Committee for International Humanitarian Law, as a comprehensive framework for Iraq to uphold international humanitarian law principles.

Lastly, the session approved the fifth amendment to the Regulations for the Practice of the Auditing and Control Profession, in accordance with the Constitution and the amended Companies Law.