The Kurdistan Region seeks full constitutional entitlements, including salaries,
pensions, investment funding, and public-sector appointments
The Iraqi Federal Government is finalizing the 2027 Federal Budget Law and preparing to submit the draft to the Council of Representatives for consideration.
The draft includes allocations for the Kurdistan Region and was prepared following a comprehensive report submitted by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Finance and Economy. The full contents of the bill have not yet been made public and are expected to be forwarded to parliament after receiving final approval from the federal cabinet.
The Kurdistan Region has requested full constitutional funding for civil and military employees, retirees, war-wounded veterans, political prisoners, and the families of martyrs. Its requests also include support for low-income families, equal social allowances for people with special needs, and funding for medicines and essential medical supplies for hospitals in the Region.
Another priority is the restoration and funding of civil service promotions, which have been frozen for years because of financial constraints. The Region has also called for the standardization of Peshmerga salaries and benefits, equal pension rights for regional retirees, and payment of outstanding financial entitlements.
The report also calls for the restoration of investment and capital expenditure allocations for public services and infrastructure projects across the Kurdistan Region following years of funding restrictions.
The KRG has further requested that more than 86,000 contract employees and teachers currently paid from the Region’s domestic revenues be transferred to permanent positions. It has also emphasized permanent employment opportunities for top university graduates, postgraduate degree holders, general practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, and other health professionals.
If approved, the requested allocations could have a significant impact on economic stability and living standards across the Kurdistan Region.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said his government is pursuing economic reforms aimed at addressing Iraq’s fiscal challenges and strengthening macroeconomic stability. He also said that alternative crude oil export routes have helped ensure the security of public-sector salaries.
Speaking at the eighth Baghdad International Dialogue Conference, al-Zaidi said the 2027 draft budget would be submitted to parliament soon. He added that reforms to domestic fuel consumption, based on economic efficiency measures, are expected to reduce waste and save approximately 18 trillion Iraqi dinars annually once implemented.