DUBAI, UAE - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani praised efforts in Diyala province to implement infrastructure projects during a meeting Wednesday with local officials, while announcing new service projects aimed at boosting developments across all sectors in the area.

The meeting, attended by the ministers of health and construction, along with Diyala governor and other senior officials, focused on the status of service sectors, investments, school buildings, and infrastructure in the province. Sudani received updates on ongoing and planned projects, according to an announcement by the PM media office. 

Sudani stressed the importance of field visits to monitor critical projects and address obstacles, reaffirming the government’s commitment to working closely with local administrations.

“The federal government and local governments are partners, and teamwork is key to delivering essential services,” he said.

He highlighted that the government has allocated "the necessary funding and prioritized long-delayed projects”.

Infrastructure projects in Diyala, he noted, are "progressing well and are essential for fostering stability and further development."

The prime minister announced a series of new projects in several districts and towns, funded either through provincial allocations or ministries. These projects come in addition to those already undertaken by the government.

Among the newly approved projects are the construction of 99 schools across Diyala, funded by the Iraq Development Fund. A sewage project will also be implemented in Muqdadiyah district, at a cost of 56.6 billion dinars, and another in the center of Baladruz district at a cost of 45.4 billion dinars. Additional sewage projects include Jalawla, costing 44.1 billion dinars; Khanaqin, 40 billion dinars; Buhriz, 28.5 billion dinars; Bani Saad, 21.25 billion dinars; and Kanaan, 17.5 billion dinars, according the prime minister’s media office announcement. 

Located in northeastern Iraq, Diyala province comprises seven districts and is home to Kurds, Sunni and Shiite Arabs. Over 1.6 million people live in the province.  

After a seven-month deadlock in forming the local government in the province, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid approved Adnan Al-Shammari of the State of Law Coalition as the governor in early August. 

Sudani described Diyala as a “microcosm" of Iraq’s diverse society and recognized "the sacrifices its people made in resisting dictatorship and terrorism.”