Gov’t achieves 42% of plans in 6 months

AMMAN (JT) –– His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday discussed with Prime Minister Samir Rifai government programmes to implement the directives included in the Letter of Designation.

Rifai informed the King that his team has completed by the end of May 42 per cent of the plans listed in the Royal letter upon the inception of the incumbent government late last year.

His Majesty met first with the premier then chaired an extended meeting with the premier and Cabinet members, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During the meeting, heads of ministerial committees briefed the King on the achievements of the government’s seven-part plan to achieve political, economic and social reforms.

The King expressed his satisfaction with the government’s performance and confidence in its method, which is working according to set goals and clear criteria to measure progress.

The Monarch stressed the importance of continuing the systematic approach adopted by the government and to focus on projects that can improve citizens’ living conditions and the services provided to them, highlighting the need to achieve development that can reflect positively on all Jordanians across the Kingdom.

He underlined the importance of transparency and maintaining contact with citizens by informing them of the government’s plans and the outcomes of these programmes as well as the challenges facing its work.

King Abdullah called for speeding up the implementation of programmes to increase citizens’ participation in the decision-making process.

In his remarks, Rifai said that the government has adopted a clear approach to identify the direction of its work to implement the King’s vision through a set of executive programmes and plans with measurable criteria by which to assess their performance.

He stressed that the government is committed to implementing the rest of the programmes and projects included in the plan during the second half of the year.

Rifai explained that the government’s executive plan entails two integrated perspectives, one which seeks to execute and implement government projects and programmes according to the seven components of the plan, while the other seeks to face the challenges of the budget deficit, adding that the government is working to implement a national and constitutional imperative in holding parliamentary elections.

On February 17, King Abdullah met with the Cabinet members, who presented the King with an outline of their plans to implement the directives in the Letter of Designation.

The seven components of the plan include political and economic reforms seeking to boost political and civil participation in decision making, expanding the middle class and protecting the economically disadvantaged, in addition to providing people with skills.

The plan also entails strengthening accountability and performance measures and stimulating economic growth through implementing infrastructure mega-projects.

When the King tasked Rifai with forming the government late last year, he instructed the ministers to work according to a clear approach, to set goals in all fields, and to set up a time frame for achieving these goals.

jordantimes