What happened to the projects launched during Sudani's tenure in Iraq?

BAGHDAD, Iraq — numerous bridges, tunnels, schools, hospitals and investment projects announced in recent years once pointed to an intense construction wave centered on Baghdad and other cities. The public largely linked that activity to the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, drawing comparisons between the capital and a sprawling construction site. Today, many are asking whether those projects have slowed and dropped off the agenda. Officials attribute the slowdown to regional tensions, fluctuations in energy and trade markets and a financial crisis, saying the government has reshuffled its priorities and is now focused on reviewing pending files. During Sudani's tenure, dozens of investment agreements were signed in transport, housing, education and services, alongside a so-called "Thousand Schools" initiative, which officials describe as concrete steps that translated into physical infrastructure. Attention has now shifted to oversight and the monitoring of financial and administrative files, with officials stressing that such reviews should not replace development work. Experts have warned that the slowdown in construction is weighing on investor confidence, employment and broader economic activity.