The Kurdistan Region has reached another major milestone in its drive to provide uninterrupted electricity, with Shaqlawa and Makhmur entering the final phase of integration into the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Runaki Program.

According to Shaqlawa Mayor Suara Akram, most of the infrastructure required to connect the district to the dedicated Runaki network has been completed, and more than 10,000 electricity subscribers are expected to receive continuous power soon. He also confirmed that neighboring Makhmur is expected to join the 24-hour electricity network within days.

Once both districts are connected, every district in Erbil Governorate will have access to round-the-clock public electricity, marking another significant step toward the KRG’s goal of providing uninterrupted electricity across the Kurdistan Region by the end of 2026.

The Runaki Program has expanded steadily through a phased rollout, with districts including Akre, Semel, Pirmam, Raparin, Soran, Zakho and Koya already benefiting from continuous electricity, while Garmian is in the final stages of implementation.

According to official figures, approximately 5.5 million residents and 153,000 commercial properties across the Kurdistan Region now receive 24-hour electricity. The expansion has also led to the retirement of nearly 6,000 neighborhood diesel generators, reducing pollution, lowering business costs and improving the quality of life for residents.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has identified uninterrupted electricity as a key pillar of the KRG’s modernization agenda, with the latest expansion bringing the Region closer to achieving universal 24-hour electricity service by the end of 2026.