Iraq's finance minister says program and performance budget work has advanced

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Finance Minister Faleh Sari said the government has made significant progress toward meeting the requirements for preparing a program and performance-based budget, according to a ministry statement. Sari reviewed the outcomes of project work during meetings held in the capital, Baghdad, as part of the ongoing preparation process. The meetings were attended by the governor of Saladin, a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government, members of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, and representatives of several ministries, cities and state institutions. Participants discussed the completed work in the budget preparation process, the results achieved by the working teams, and recommendations for finishing the project. Sari said the transition under way is aimed at shifting from an allocation-based budget approach to a system measured by programs, projects and performance indicators. He also called for bilateral meetings between budget committees and the Kurdistan Regional Government delegation in the coming days. The minister stressed that the transparent disclosure of financial data and revenues is a fundamental condition for reaching a realistic and accurate budget. No further details were immediately available on the timeline for completing the budget preparation work.