Baghdad: Finance Minister Faleh al-Sari affirmed that employee salaries are fully secured, indicating that there is no intention to distribute salaries every 45 days.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Sari addressed a gathering of experts and specialists, revealing that the monthly salary expenditure amounts to approximately 7 trillion and 700 billion dinars. The ministry is actively working to increase pensions and the salaries of lower-ranking employees. Al-Sari highlighted the significant inflation in costs and emphasized efforts to address this issue by controlling spending and improving the efficiency of financial resource utilization.

In discussing the tax file, al-Sari noted that the ministry is targeting approximately 3,800 major taxpayers, though only about 1,300 are currently compliant with payments. He explained that taxpayers have been divided into two categories, with ongoing efforts to expand the tax base by implementing the tax identification number.

Al-Sari also mentioned that the program budget includes the Ministries of Finance and Electricity, along with the governorates of Salah al-Din and Diwaniyah. Additionally, he pointed out that approximately 20 trillion dinars are owed to the Ministry of Finance by other entities, and steps are being taken to address and regulate these outstanding payments.

Regarding oil exports, al-Sari stated that a Saudi-Kuwaiti pipeline passing through the Red Sea has a capacity of up to two million barrels per day, presenting a potential opportunity for Iraq to participate in it.