Prime Minister Masrour Barzani chairs cabinet meeting to assess anti-coronavirus measures, economic situation

Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (GOV.KRD) - Prime Minister Masrour Barzani today chaired a special meeting to assess the implementation of the government’s regulations and preventative measures against the coronavirus and the overall economic situation. The meeting also reviewed people’s needs in terms of food, medicine and fuel.

On the health front, the Prime Minister conducted a video conference with the relevant authorities.

During the meeting, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Prime Minister Barzani praised the Kurdistan people's resilience, and encouraged them to continue abiding by the rules and regulations set in place for public safety.

Prime Minister Barzani also praised government agencies, police, security and Peshmerga forces, as well as medical teams, for their ceaseless efforts to contain the coronavirus.

He also thanked investors and business owners who answered the government's call to ease financial burdens on the general public.

At the meeting, it was decided to establish national assistance and fundraising campaigns under the direct supervision of the Council of Ministers. All collected funds will be fairly and transparently allocated across the region's cities, towns and districts. This new plan will encompass individual and localised efforts already underway. Prime Minister Barzani called on the Federal Government of Iraq and the international community to assist the Kurdistan Region in this regard.

The finance, interior and Peshmerga ministries, together with the security forces, were tasked with establishing a convenient mechanism to pay Peshmerga, police and security forces salaries, in accordance with anti-coronavirus rules and regulations.

As part of implementing the government’s reform agenda, public finances will be overhauled and expenses reduced.

The KRG will continue working with the Federal Government towards guaranteeing the Kurdistan region’s budgetary share and constitutional rights.

The meeting concluded with plans for a special meeting on oil and gas, to study the reorganization of the sector’s revenues, its current financial situation and the coronavirus' negative impact on world oil markets.