Iraq's finance minister orders contractor payments in five provinces

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Finance Minister Falah al-Sari has ordered the release of first-tranche payments owed to contractors in Basra, Diwaniyah, Najaf, Babylon and Maysan, the Ministry of Finance said. The ministry added that outstanding payments in other provinces would also be processed in consecutive installments. Ali Fahir al-Sinnafi, head of the Iraqi and Arab Contractors Union, welcomed the move and praised the commitment of Prime Minister Ali Fall al-Zaydi and Minister al-Sari to settling contractor dues that have accumulated over the years. Al-Sinnafi also commended lawmaker Ali Shaddad for his role in following the file. The union chief said that issuing payments in regular, back-to-back installments would help phase out accumulated debts and strengthen the operational stability of contracting firms across the country. The ministry's directive followed a meeting between al-Sinnafi and al-Sari on Tuesday, according to the statement.