CAN THE POPULATION CENSUS SUCCEED IN DRAWING A NEW ECONOMIC POLICY IN IRAQ?
The Iraqi government is preparing to conduct a general population census on November 20, the first census to include all regions of Iraq in nearly 4 decades.
Iraq witnessed the last general population census that included all its governorates in 1987, and although the country conducted another population census in 1997, the latter did not include the governorates of the Kurdistan Region, because they were semi-independent from Iraq during the era of the former regime.
The population census represents a vital tool for formulating economic policies based on updated facts and data that enhance the government’s ability to achieve comprehensive and balanced economic growth, while addressing economic and social challenges.
On the subject, the financial and banking specialist, Mustafa Hantoush, said in an interview with / Al-Maalouma / Agency that the Iraqi state’s funds are scattered and it does not know where to direct them or where to start the development process, indicating that “The general population census is full of positives and has no negatives.”
He comes added, “There are no higher policies or clear lines to work on, and every country that puts forward its ideas far from the needs of society, and the population census will end this chaos by clarifying a number of important matters.”
He pointed out that “Iraq has clear economic problems in work, housing and diversifying the economy, and the state cannot solve them except by conducting a general population census.”
For his part, economic expert Dhurgham Muhammad confirmed that the results of the general population census will help the government reach a realistic formula and vision during the preparation and amendment of next year’s budget schedules, while he pointed out the necessity of having a real reading of the future of oil prices for next year in order to determine a reasonable price for a barrel of oil that will be adopted by the 2025 budget.
Mohamed Ali said in a statement to Al-Maalouma Agency, “The amendments to the 2025 budget schedules will depend scientifically and realistically on the results of the general population census that will be conducted at the end of this month,” indicating that “the census Results will give the government clarity when conducting transfers and drawing up realistic development plans.”
He added that “the authorities responsible for preparing the budget must re-read it for the future of oil prices and adopt an appropriate and realistic price that is consistent with the expectations of global oil market experts, when preparing the schedules for next year, as Most indicators confirm a decrease in oil prices for security and economic reasons.”
Recently, rumors have spread on social media that the general population census will lead to the cutting of welfare salaries or the imposition of new taxes on citizens.
In this context, MP Aref Al-Hamami said in an interview with Al-Maalouma, “What is being said is inaccurate and we deny it completely and in detail through our close knowledge of the census’s progress and its great benefits in preparing the country’s strategic Plans for decades in terms of economy and development.”
He pointed out that “effective participation with the provision of accurate information will ensure the existence of comprehensive data that gives the government a vision in drawing the foundations of its future plans directly.”
The general population census will be launched on the 20th and 21st of this month in all Iraqi governorates, which will include a curfew. About 120,000 enumerators will participate in the census, while the Ministry of Planning confirmed that this census will contribute to knowing the real numbers of the population and the living conditions that will be invested for development purposes.
(The key wording in this VERY IMPORTANT census is “in all governorates”. This will be an all inclusive census to develop Iraq as an all-inclusive country and not sectarian as past federal governments did.)
No comments:
Post a Comment