Iraqi writer urges government to raise pension salaries

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi writer Jawad al-Tunisi has called on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani to raise pensions, saying retirees have gone years without adequate support and are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living. In his appeal, al-Tunisi said current pension levels fail to cover healthcare, medicine and basic needs and should be adjusted in line with inflation. He argued that improving conditions for retirees is not only a fiscal question but also an investment in social justice and public trust in the state. The writer called for better access to healthcare, expanded support programs and a revision of the pension scale. He described the state's duty to safeguard retirees as a moral and national responsibility and said it forms the foundation of a stable society. Al-Tunisi urged the government to implement pension rights guaranteed under the constitution and relevant laws without further delay.