Anbar official says underfunding has halted strategic projects

RAMADI, Iraq — Anbar's deputy governor for services, al-Hakim Hussein Ali, said funding transfers from the central government have fallen short, directly slowing the execution of strategic projects across the province. Speaking at a press conference, Ali said ready-made plans and projects are in place but completion rates have suffered because payment tranches have been released late. Ali said several projects named in a five-year development plan have effectively stopped due to the financing delays, including the Anbar International Airport, an Olympic stadium, the Baghdad–Haditha road, the Sheikh Ramahi development road, and work on water, electricity and sewerage networks. Provincial authorities have reshuffled spending priorities to keep core services running from existing resources, but he said financial strains persist. The deputy governor said Anbar expects a fairer distribution of funds and mutual understanding in its financial relationship with the federal government, noting that while the province sees no deliberate discrimination against it, there is a serious shortfall in allocations. He added that the funding shortfall is not confined to Anbar and also affects Baghdad and other cities, but argued that compensation, wounded and martyr files show a clear and possibly deliberate gap. The local administration is redirecting resources to keep priority services affecting citizens' daily lives operational and is coordinating with the relevant ministries on financing, he said.