Thousands of retired peshmarga in the Kurdistan Region are receiving delayed salaries today. Some are collecting two payments at once after months of hardship.
Officials say more than a thousand retired peshmarga fighters went 14 months without pay. Thousands of others also missed salaries for three to eight months. A peshmarga pension official confirmed that some retirees will now receive two salaries together.
The General Directorate of Pensions announced that authorities restored the names of some retirees to the payroll. As a result, they can now receive their payments. The Ministry of Finance scheduled today’s distribution for both military and civilian retirees.
The official explained that retirees who recently returned to the payroll will only receive two months’ salaries. In the past, authorities paid all delayed salaries in one payment. That practice has now changed.
Earlier this month, Fathullah Omar, Deputy Director General of Peshmarga Pensions, said officials had completed all pending procedures. These cases involved retirees who had not received salaries for 14 months. He added that the government is releasing payments in stages. Some retirees have already received their salaries, while others will receive them soon.
Omar stressed that no retiree will remain unpaid by the fourth payroll cycle.
Officials say several factors caused the delays. Some retirees previously served in older peshmarga units and later transferred to the Ministry of Finance. Others retired in 2024 and faced administrative delays.
The Kurdistan Region has more than 330,000 retirees. About half are civilians, while the rest are military pensioners.
