Baghdad - INA
Former Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi commended Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi's measures on Thursday and issued a call for discussion regarding the Dari project.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, which was carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Kadhimi stated: "I am following with appreciation and interest your government's decision to re-evaluate a number of strategic projects that have raised questions concerning their economic feasibility, implementation mechanisms, and suspicions, most notably the Baghdad International Airport development project and the railway line, in addition to projects that have been accompanied by widespread criticism regarding the integrity of contracting and implementation procedures and the lack of transparency in the management of public resources."
He explained that "this step represents a positive indicator of establishing an institutional review approach and linking national projects to standards of economic efficiency, technical sustainability, and the protection of public funds, which enhances citizens' confidence in the state's ability to manage its resources according to considerations of the supreme national interest."
He added: “Based on this approach, there is a clear need for a comprehensive review of urban planning policies in Baghdad, as this is a sovereign matter linked to the national identity and cultural memory of the Iraqi state. Baghdad is not merely an urban space that can be reshaped according to immediate investment considerations, but rather a city of exceptional historical and cultural value. For centuries, it has been a global center of civilization and humanity, and this is reflected in its urban structure, social fabric, and distinctive architectural character.”
Al-Kadhimi explained that “modern urban planning experiences have shown that the uncontrolled expansion of vertical projects within historical cities often leads to structural imbalances in security, transportation, services, and infrastructure systems, in addition to its direct impact on the city’s visual and environmental identity. Furthermore, a number of residential complexes and projects built within the traditional urban fabric of the capital have failed to provide a sustainable solution to the housing crisis or traffic congestion. Instead, they have placed additional pressure on water, electricity, sewage, and public road networks.”
He pointed out that "some projects implemented or underway in the vicinity of religious and historical sites within Baghdad have begun to directly impact the visual landscape and the sanctity of historical shrines and mosques, to the point where high-rise buildings and commercial structures are obscuring the domes and minarets of several religious shrines and heritage landmarks that represent a part of the spiritual and cultural identity of the capital. This necessitates an urgent review of the planning regulations and building heights surrounding these sites of religious and historical significance."
Al-Kadhimi emphasized that "planning for the future of Baghdad should be based on a scientific urban vision led by specialists in urban planning, architecture, and city management, within an institutional framework that balances the requirements of development with the preservation of the capital's historical identity. Sound urban development relies on redistributing urban growth centers by creating new cities outside existing urban centers, developing suburbs and areas suitable for horizontal and vertical expansion with integrated infrastructure, and increasing green spaces, which constitute the capital's lungs and environmental safeguard, while adopting strict protection policies for areas of heritage and cultural value within historic Baghdad."
He added, "The professional and national responsibility of the Baghdad Municipality necessitates a more effective role in protecting the capital from the wave of urban blight that has affected large parts of it as a result of ill-conceived projects and weak adherence to planning and architectural standards. It also requires working to reinstate urban regulations that guarantee the preservation of Baghdad's visual character and historical identity, and preventing urban planning decisions from becoming tools subject to narrow commercial interests, political influence, or ill-considered considerations."
Al-Kadhimi pointed out that "preserving the urban character of the capital is part of the state's cultural and symbolic security, because historical cities lose much of their value when they are subjected to haphazard transformations that weaken their architectural distinctiveness and sever their connection to their collective memory. Therefore, protecting Baghdad does not contradict modernization; rather, it establishes a balanced development model that links modernity with identity and provides future generations with a city capable of evolving without compromising its cultural heritage."
He added, "National responsibility necessitates launching a comprehensive strategic project to reorganize urban development in the capital. This project must be based on scientific studies, long-term visions, and the expertise of international consulting firms, and must adhere to standards of transparency, efficiency, and sustainability. This will preserve Baghdad's historical and cultural standing and prevent urban planning decisions from becoming tools for achieving narrow interests at the expense of the public good."
He explained that "the biggest flaw over the past years has been the flawed approach to the housing crisis, which was based on the principle of 'treating one mistake with another.' Housing projects granted to some under blatant political cover, and under the guise of stimulating the economy, fell far short of achieving their stated objectives. They did not resolve the crisis; rather, they exacerbated it due to the significant increase in housing unit prices. They also distorted the city's image because of their incompatibility with its architectural heritage, and they failed to contribute to the desired economic growth. This was all due to influence peddling and narrow interests that harmed the public interest and weakened the foundations of fair competition."
He added, "To achieve a real breakthrough in this regard, and to benefit from past governmental experiences, what we need to resolve this crisis, stimulate the economy, and encourage investment in a sound and scientific manner is to draw inspiration from successful integrated urban models, foremost among them the Bismayah City project during the Al-Maliki government. This is something we also worked on in my government under the name 'Dari Project,' which failed to achieve tangible results after it was first demonized in the media and then later transformed from a joint project between the state and the private sector serving the citizen into one serving only the investor, thus losing many of its fundamental developmental objectives."
Al-Kadhimi pointed out that "the 'Dari Project' is an integrated project, not belonging to the Al-Kadhimi government, but rather to the Iraqi people and to Iraq. You can revive it and work on developing it. The figures are available and can be reviewed, and I am happy to make them available to you because it will be a strong starting point for your government in addressing the most pressing crises and strengthening citizens' confidence in the state's ability to provide sustainable and tangible solutions to the accumulated economic challenges of the past period." He explained that "Baghdad represents Iraq's political, cultural, and civilizational memory, and any decision made today regarding its urban landscape will have repercussions for decades to come. Therefore, preserving its architectural and historical identity and finding genuine, sustainable solutions to the housing crisis is a national responsibility that transcends short-term considerations. It demands a firm stance that safeguards the capital's spirit and unique character, lest we find ourselves facing cities choked by inadequate services and socially isolated, where Baghdad's historic neighborhoods are transformed into concrete jungles and belts of poverty and social vulnerability, threatening social security and robbing the city of its human and cultural appeal."
He concluded by saying, "Building cities is not merely an urban development project, but a project for building people, the state, and identity. What is built today with stone and cement will remain a testament to the nature of the choices we make and to the kind of Iraq we want for future generations."
