Karak deputies outline residents’ needs to PM, ministers

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and Karak MPs on Monday discussed challenges and difficulties facing the southern governorate and its residents. 

In the presence of several ministers, the premier said the purpose of the meeting was for the government to learn firsthand about the needs of the governorate, some 140km south of Amman, and its residents through their representatives.  

Ensour acknowledged the rightful demands presented by the deputies but said that they cannot all be achieved at once. 

Asked about appointments to senior public sector positions, the premier said there are no quotas in this regard, noting that employees are appointed on the basis of merit. 

Discussions also touched on the maintenance of the desert highway. 

Ensour said its maintenance requires JD100 million, adding that the government has started, allocating JD10 million for the project.

Karak MPs highlighted the difficult economic conditions of their governorate, with former Lower House speaker Abdul Hadi Majali calling for transforming Rubba Agricultural College into an agricultural university to improve economic, cultural and social conditions in the northern parts of Karak. 

He also highlighted the shortage in the number of mosques and imams in the governorate. 

Deputy Nayef Leimoun said Karak’s budget is not in conformity with its needs, adding that the governorate has suffered because of the lack of development projects. 

Other MPs, including Bassam Btoush, spoke about the unemployment problem, stressing the need for attracting more investments into the governorate to mitigate poverty and create more jobs. 

Referring to the rights to be granted to children of Jordanian women married to foreigners, Btoush commended the progress made in government talks in this regard, expressing hope that authorities will not to yield pressure to grant these children citizenship.    

Ministers attending the meeting spoke about projects achieved as well as those planned for Karak. 

Trade Minister Hatem Halawani said the price of land at the industrial estate in Karak was reduced to draw more investors, adding that JD13 million has been allocated from the Governorates Development Fund for Karak to improve the quality of infrastructure and services. 

Finance Minister Umayya Toukan said a total of JD51 million worth of capital projects has been allocated for Karak while Labour Minister Nidal Katamine noted that the ministry helped secure 1,288 job opportunities for the governorate. 

Health Minister Ali Hiasat said there are 63 healthcare centres in Karak, and the ministry is currently working on expanding Karak Public Hospital to include 600 beds.

The meeting is one of a series of meetings that the executive authority is holding to become further acquainted with the needs of governorates across the Kingdom.