Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has issued directives to impose the strictest legal measures against individuals involved in forging retirement transactions. He also emphasized the need to activate the employees’ retirement fund for investment projects’ completion.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Prime Minister’s media office released a statement following Al-Sudani’s visit to the National Retirement Authority’s headquarters. During his visit, he chaired a meeting with the authority’s head and senior staff. Al-Sudani instructed the launch of the fifth batch of retirement salaries for former Iraqi army members before Eid al-Fitr, with the sixth batch to follow immediately, aiming to close this issue permanently.

He also addressed financial discrepancies for wounded security forces and announced the formation of a committee to finalize retirement procedures for prisoners of war from 1991. Additionally, he ordered a committee from the Retirement Authority and the Martyrs Foundation to resolve retirement issues for terrorism victims in Anbar Governorate, ensuring retirees receive their dues promptly and implementing severe penalties against those who commit forgery in retirement transactions.

Al-Sudani directed the activation of the employees’ retirement fund to aid in completing investment projects, particularly in the housing sector. He highlighted the importance of prioritizing the treatment of retirees abroad, funded by the state, by activating health insurance in coordination with the Retirement Authority.

The Prime Minister underscored the urgency of completing an automation program to facilitate electronic transaction processing. He also called for the rehabilitation of retirement directorates’ buildings across governorates, designed to accommodate technological advancements and improve service quality for retirees.

Al-Sudani emphasized the need for precise and swift completion of retirement transactions, attributing delays to corruption cases. He also addressed the heirs of retirees, advocating for salary adjustments to enhance their living standards as part of the government’s commitment to improving citizens’ quality of life.