ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi government on Thursday decided to extend the population census in provinces where the enumerators were unable to register all residents in the two-day process by an additional 24 hours. The government also prolonged a nationwide ban on movement between cities for the same period. Iraq held the main stage of the census on Wednesday, weeks after the initial stages began. The process was also held in the Kurdistan Region. The Higher Authority for the General Population Census said the process has been extended by one day in areas where the registration process has yet to be completed. A two-day lockdown is scheduled to end in coming minutes but the authority’s security branch said the curfew will be maintained between cities. Kurdistan Region's census committee said the extensions apply to the Region too. Participation in the census reached 100 percent in some provinces, such as Kirkuk. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani ordered census teams to finalize the process by Friday. “The Prime Minister also urged all citizens to fully cooperate with the census teams by providing accurate information to ensure the success of this important initiative, which serves as a foundation for all service, economic, and development efforts,” read a statement from his office.
