Parliamentary Calls to Adopt a Strategy for Building Modern Cities as a Radical Solution to Iraq's Housing Crisis

The housing crisis in Iraq is escalating into a major urban challenge, placing immense pressure on large cities, particularly the capital, Baghdad, which now accommodates approximately one-third of the country's population. In this context, former Parliamentary Services Committee member Manar Abdel-Muttalib asserted that temporary fixes are no longer effective, emphasizing that the optimal solution lies in constructing new, integrated cities that provide essential services and job opportunities. She explained that current cities have far exceeded their capacity, leading to the emergence of slums and deteriorating infrastructure. She called for utilizing empty spaces to build urban complexes that would help lower real estate prices and alleviate the severe population density in older neighborhoods.