Sulaymaniyah authorities have introduced a new framework for distributing land plots to civil servants and salaried employees, aiming to resolve long-standing obstacles in municipalities affected by limited expansion space, low land value, and legal restrictions under Article 140, while simultaneously advancing the distribution of thousands of prepared plots across the governorate.

New Committee Formed to Resolve Land Distribution Challenges

The Sulaymaniyah Municipality has adopted a new mechanism to address difficulties that have prevented land allocation in several administrative areas.

Engineer Othman Taha, Head of Master Planning at the General Directorate of Sulaymaniyah Municipalities, told Channel8 that more than 20 municipalities and administrative units have faced challenges in distributing land due to the absence of urban expansion boundaries, low property values, or their location within territories covered by Article 140.

To address these issues, a high-level committee was established and divided the affected municipalities into three categories, allowing eligible employees to receive land in alternative, designated locations.

First Category: Municipalities Without Expansion Space

The first category includes municipalities that no longer have available land within their administrative boundaries for expansion.

Employees from the municipalities of Kanarwe, Basne, Sitak, Zalan, Mawat, and Gapilon will instead receive land plots in the Chwarta District after local options were exhausted.

Second Category: Low Land Value Areas

The second category applies to municipalities where land is available but considered too low in value for employees to accept in comparison with registration costs.

This classification includes Bawakhoshen, Khidran, and Khalakan. Under the new plan, eligible employees will receive plots in nearby administrative areas with higher-value real estate.

Third Category: Municipalities Located Within Article 140 Areas

Authorities have also introduced a separate arrangement for municipalities located within areas covered by Article 140, where the Kurdistan Regional Government does not hold legal authority to distribute land.

Under this mechanism, employees from Qarahanjir, Shwan, Qadir Karam, Khalkhalan, and Takyah of Jabari will receive plots within the administrative boundaries of Chamchamal District and Shorish sub-district.

Thousands of Plots Prepared Across Sulaymaniyah

At the same time, land distribution across Sulaymaniyah Governorate has entered an advanced implementation phase.

The governorate contains 43 administrative units with independent municipalities. Authorities say land plots have already been allocated and prepared for distribution in 20 municipalities, while distribution has been completed in 7 municipalities.

Additional areas are currently in the final preparation stages to provide land to civil servants, retirees, Peshmerga members, and beneficiaries who have completed land acquisition procedures.

Distribution Figures Across Districts and Upcoming Allocations

According to Sulaymaniyah Municipality data, 25,000 land plots have already been distributed in four phases to civil servants, Peshmerga members, retirees, and families of martyrs.

Distribution figures include:

• 385 plots distributed in Penjwen District
• 350 plots distributed across two phases in Arbat sub-district
• 85 plots distributed in Sangaw
• 80 plots distributed in Gopala
• 65 plots distributed in Garmik

Meanwhile, thousands of additional plots are being prepared for future distribution.

Authorities confirmed that 2,000 plots are ready in Bazian and Alayi, while more than 2,000 additional plots have been prepared in Piramagrun. Another 500 plots in Penjwen and 350 additional plots in Arbat have also been added to the upcoming phase of the allocation process.