Shafaq News / The formal establishment of Halabja as thefourth province in the Kurdistan Region paves the way for a more balanced andequitable distribution of resources across the Region, a senior economistconfirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking to Shafaq News, Professor of InternationalEconomics Nawar al-Saadi emphasized that the decision carries significanteconomic weight beyond its administrative or symbolic dimensions.
With provincial status, Halabja will begin receivingindependent budget allocations, allowing for direct investment in publicservices, infrastructure, and key sectors such as education, healthcare, andtransportation. These investments, he explained, are expected to stimulatelocal economic activity, create new job opportunities, and revitalize marketsin an area that has remained relatively underserved in recent years.
Al-Saadi noted that provincial status also equips Halabjawith the financial and administrative tools necessary to engage moreeffectively in the Region’s broader development efforts. As a fully recognizedprovince, it will have the capacity to shape and implement policies thatreflect its specific needs, marking an important step toward addressinghistorical disparities in funding and planning within the Region.
“This transition enhances the Region’s development capacityand expands both its administrative and economic base,” he remarked.
On Monday, the Iraqi Parliament voted to officially recognizeHalabja as Iraq’s 19th province, bringing an end to years of political delaythat had stalled the issue’s formal presentation in parliament.