The minister announced its decision in a letter dated April 18 and made public by the Sulaimani passport office on Tuesday. In the missive it refers to Halabja as a province, order the “Development of passport directorate in Halabja province.”
Salar Abdullah, director of Sulaimani’s passport office, confirmed the decision on Monday and congratulated the people of Halabja “for the significant achievement.”
Halabja was designated a province by the Iraqi government in 2013, but many ministries and bodies have not taken the steps to deal with it as separate entity from Sulaimani province.
It is included with Sulaimani province in the ongoing parliamentary elections.
Abdulla said the decision was made following efforts from several people including Deputy KRG Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.
He is in Baghdad with a delegation headed by Sulaimani Governor Haval Abubakir.
On their return from the Iraqi capital, Abdulla said they will find an appropriate building in Halabja for the office.
He added that when they return from Baghdad they will visit Halabja to find a building for the passport office, provided by the administration of Halabja province.
Iraqi Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji received the Kurdish delegation on Tuesday. They discussed “a number of issues of mutual concern and ways of using them for the public interest,” according to a readout from his office.
