Iran Gov’t to Propose Split in Ministries

The vice president for parliamentary affairs said the government will send a proposal to parliament to split three of its oversized ministries.

President Hassan Rouhani’s government intends to “propose that the Roads and Urban Development Ministry be split into two separate ministries: road and transport, housing and urbanization,” Hosseinali Amiri told IRNA on Sunday.

“The proposal will also call for the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Trade to be split into the ministry of industries and mines, and trade ministry. The Ministry of Sports and Youth would become sports ministry and the national youth organization,” Amiri said.

If approved by parliament, the bill would reverse a measure by former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his last days in office in 2012 to merge several ministries, purportedly to create a streamlined and efficient administration.

As per law, the law-making body must approve the split and merger of ministries.