Finance Ministry blames pensions delay on technical glitches

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Finance on Thursday attributed the delay in disbursing pensions to technical problems with banking transfers and electronic payment systems, stressing that funds are fully available.

“The delay in disbursing pensions this month is due to purely technical reasons related to payment systems and banking transfers, and has nothing to do with the availability of financial liquidity,” the ministry said in a statement. It added that pension allocations were secured in the federal budget and that technical teams are working with banking authorities “around the clock” to resume payments.

The ministry said the disruption was linked to transfers between banks and electronic systems and pledged to “enhance the efficiency of payment systems” to avoid future delays. Nearly 3 million retirees, whose pensions were due on the first of the month, have already faced a four-day hold-up, with reports suggesting payments could be delayed until Sunday.

The ministry rejected speculation that the delay was tied to politics or a liquidity crisis. “We reject attempts to exploit the delay in disbursing pensions and involve it in political campaigns or use it as a tool of defamation in light of the upcoming elections,” it said.

It concluded that systematic attempts to misrepresent the situation amount to “unjustified targeting of a national financial institution entrusted with managing public funds and ensuring the rights of employees and retirees.”