Following fire last month
Renovation of Erbil’s historic Qaysari bazaar commences
ERBIL — Renovation of the historic Qaysari Bazaar in Erbil began on Thursday, with the project being funded by the governorate’s own budget, according to the governor of Erbil.
A fire on May 5 destroyed 227 shops and seven warehouses, injuring 132 people. Significant progress on repairs had yet to be made until now.
Omed Khoshnaw, the Governor of Erbil, visited Qaysari Bazaar and announced to the media, “The renovation work of Qaysari Bazaar started on Thursday, and we have contracted two companies to ensure the project is completed quickly.”
He explained that the renovation in the old part of Qaysari will take time due to the bazaar’s historical significance, as it is an ancient site under UNESCO protection. Some parts of the renovation may require up to a year to complete.
“The renovation project costs 5.3 billion dinars ($4,043,900), funded by the Erbil governorate’s budget,” said Khoshnaw.
Shopkeepers from Qaysari Bazaar, which was severely damaged by the fire nearly a month ago, have previously gathered to express their frustration over the slow pace of reconstruction.
Salar Taha, a fabric store owner in the bazaar, told 964media, “We have been left without work. People cannot live even a day without work, and we have been without work for a month. We cannot manage our lives in this situation.”
The Qaysari incident was the latest in a series of fires that have engulfed markets in Erbil. The city has witnessed a spate of fires since the beginning of the year, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Statistics from Erbil Civil Defense indicate that the city has experienced an average of nearly three fire incidents per day over the past five months, totaling 407 incidents. Of these, 33 involved markets and shops.
Previously, the Erbil governor announced support measures for Qaysari Bazaar. He announced a one-year rent waiver for any government-owned shop space that suffered damage in the fire. Additionally, merchants who incurred losses from the fire will be exempt from paying six months of fees for waste and debris removal and shop signage. Tax relief will also be provided for all merchants affected by the fire, with a 50% tax exemption for 2023 and a full exemption for 2024.
Merchants affected by the fire will also be eligible to apply for interest-free loans from Cihan Bank for a period of 24 to 36 months, following guidelines from the Central Bank and upon obtaining a support document from Erbil’s Crisis Management Directorate. Moreover, any merchant who lost Iraqi dinars in the fire and has proof of such losses will receive government assistance for compensation through the Central Bank’s Erbil branch.
KRG prime minister calls for investigation after Erbil's Qaysari Bazaar fire
Iraqi parliament forms committee to probe Erbil bazaar fire
