Eco
In a significant move to address the housing crisis and foster citizen stability, the Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities, and Public Works is coordinating with relevant authorities to commence land ownership transfer for plots under the Million Land Plot initiative. This program, spearheaded by Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, aims to distribute one million land plots to eligible citizens nationwide. Estabraq Sabah, the Ministry's official spokesperson, stated in remarks to an official newspaper that the General Directorate of Municipalities, a key entity within the Ministry, is central to this process. Technical committees, established in collaboration with specialized bodies, are preparing to launch ownership transfer procedures, a crucial element of government efforts to meet housing demands. The Directorate, in conjunction with provincial municipal departments, the Ministries of Defense and Agriculture, and the Directorate of Real Estate Registration and State Properties, is actively resolving technical hurdles, mediating land overlaps, and demarcating plots earmarked for the initiative. Sabah indicated that 275,000 plots in Baghdad and all governorates have been allocated for the initial phase. Challenges include lands with agricultural rights requiring compensation from the Ministry of Agriculture, and plots owned by the Ministry of Defense, intended for its personnel, such as Al-Fursan City in Nahrawan, Baghdad. The spokesperson emphasized that transferring land ownership to municipal departments hinges on finalizing master designs to ascertain if lands fall within or outside municipal boundaries. Governorates are currently developing specific designs for these new urban areas or expanding existing master plans. Sabah affirmed that competent authorities are vigorously addressing these procedures through intensive, continuous meetings, aiming to propel the initiative into advanced implementation stages. An integrated electronic platform and official link are anticipated to launch next October to receive applications from targeted citizens. Five governorates—Holy Karbala, Holy Najaf, Anbar, Muthanna, and Maysan—have declared readiness to implement the initiative, while coordination continues with others. Plot allocation per governorate is determined by population count and poverty rates, criteria set by the Ministry of Planning. Sabah concluded that the nation's current housing deficit stands at 2.3 million units, making the Prime Minister's initiative a significant contributor to fulfilling a substantial portion of this need across Baghdad and the governorates.
