KRG to send report on reform progress to lawmakers ‘soon,’ council of ministers says

A three-month-long report on the reform progress undertaken by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will be sent to legislators soon, the council of ministers announced on Wednesday following a meeting.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A three-month-long report on the reform progress undertaken by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will be sent to legislators soon, the council of ministers announced on Wednesday following a meeting.

In early January, the Kurdistan Parliament unanimously passed the Reform Law, submitted by the KRG’s ninth cabinet as its program lays out an ambitious reform plan. The law is intended to reform public salaries, pensions, and allowances.

The KRG will send its first report on the progress of reform implementation for the first quarter of 2020 to the Kurdistan Parliament “soon,” the Council of Ministers said in a statement following its ministerial meeting on Wednesday.

The to-be-sent report will cover the cabinet’s reform progress after the law took effect on July 1.

On Monday, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani shed light on several critical issues during a parliamentary session. The discussion particularly focused on the financial and administrative reform process; the reform law; plans to confront the coronavirus and ensuing financial crisis; and service and strategic projects in agriculture, industry, roads and electricity.

Read More: PM Barzani presents cabinet's work to the Kurdistan Parliament, discusses reform package development

The prime minister stressed that reform is an ongoing process, which will not be completed overnight. It has started in many areas, he said, and will affect a variety of sectors, both financially and administratively.

The council of ministers also discussed “recommendations for next steps as the Kurdistan Regional Government carries out further reforms in all sectors,” the statement noted.

During the special parliament session, besides talks on reform, Prime Minister Barzani focused on his cabinet’s improved services provision such as “raising [power] production to 3,700 megawatts, providing electricity for a period that exceeds 20 hours per day for the public.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany