Baghdad: The "Eco Iraq" Observatory confirmed today that the budget deficit for the first nine months of this year reached 17 trillion and 686 billion dinars, calling for a reduction in non-salary expenditures, particularly investment spending and the purchase of goods and services.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Observatory stated in a press release that total government expenditures up to the end of September amounted to 108 trillion and 854 billion dinars, while oil and non-oil revenues totaled 91 trillion and 168 billion dinars.

The Observatory reported that the actual deficit up to the end of the ninth month reached 17 trillion and 686 billion dinars, noting that this deficit is increasing month after month without any real solutions to reduce it or increase revenue streams.

The Observatory highlighted the need to reduce non-salary expenditures, such as investment spending, which exceeded 14 trillion dinars, and recommended limiting the purchase of unnecessary goods and services. It also emphasized the necessity of increasing taxes on imported non-food goods and commodities, alongside imposing higher fees on tourists and those coming to the country for work purposes.