Ammon News - The Lower House of Parliament on Wednesday held a consultative meeting with the government, attended by Speaker Abdul Karim Al-Dughmi, Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh and the cabinet members.
The meeting covered a number of national issues in various political, economic, social and service fields.
MPs also presented a number of demands and general issues.
Al-Dughmi said that the meeting was in line with the rules of procedure and the provisions of the constitution.
He indicated that the current extraordinary session does not allow for holding oversight sessions in accordance with the constitution, which was clear in this matter in terms of the inadmissibility of raising any topic that was not mentioned in the text of the royal decree.
Al-Dughmi added MPs raised many issues of public concern, pointing out that the government confirmed its interest and follow-up to their demands.
He noted that the government committed, upon his request, to provide the parliament with answers to all the MPs' observations.
Khasawneh, in turn, stressed the government's commitment to the relations of cooperation and joint responsibility with the Lower House, in a transparent and clear manner and in a way that serves the interests of the country and citizens.
The Prime Minister also underlined the government's respect for the Lower House's oversight and legislative role, and its constant readiness to interact with MPs and cooperate in solving issues they raise, whether during sessions or consultative meetings such as this important one "which we are all keen on its continuity and obtaining the best results from it".
Khasawneh reiterated that the future is better for a country that entered its second centennial with stability and resilience thanks to the cohesion of its leadership and people.
"A better future places on us all the responsibility of making the right decisions with transparency, clarity, and frankness with citizens about the nature of various challenges, especially the economic ones, away from populism and to ward off any risks that may impact the Kingdom’s financial and monetary situation, which is extremely stable and resilient" the Prime Minister said.
He referred to the mitigating measures taken by the government by allocating JD30 million, which included the National Aid Fund, the Poor Student Support Fund, and support for the transport sector to avoid increasing transport fees, as well as reducing customs tariffs on various commodities and energy tariffs, which lowered the bill on a large segment of citizens and sectors to increase competitiveness and productivity.
He pointed out that the government has not imposed any tax since assuming its responsibilities, with constant care in all procedures to ward off any risks to the macro economy and proceed, at the same time, with plans for modernization and development, improving the lives of citizens and economic recovery in light of crises that have passed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
In response to MPs comments and inquiries, the Prime Minister said that the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) has canalled its decision to bar bringing pharmaceutical drugs into Kingdom which are carried by travelers.
On plans for exploring oil and some minerals in the Kingdom, the Prime Minister said that the government is proceeding with its national program to explore oil and some minerals, awaiting results of these efforts at various stages.
Regarding complaints about the lack of drinking water supply in some governorates, Khasawneh said that the Ministry of Water is making the required efforts to solve these problems "baring in mind that we have a water deficit estimated at about 10 million cubic meters for this summer".
"We are gradually continuing to reflect global oil prices on local prices, especially in light of the great hike that occurred in global market and the decrease in public revenue by JD475 million due to the stabilization of fuel prices for several months" Khasawneh explained.
The Prime Minister pointed out that such measures are mainly aimed at protecting the macro economy, overcoming current economic challenges, and avoiding any possibility of high inflation.
In response to inquiries by several MPs, Khasawneh underscored that the councils of the industrial and commercial chambers would be dissolved a month before the date of their elections in order to achieve the public interest and the impartiality of the elections.
In a statement after the meeting, Minister of State for Media Affairs, Faisal Shboul, said that the meeting discussed various national issues, and MPs spoke about issues and general demands and did not address any personal demands.
Shboul, who is also the government spokesperson, pointed out to an agreement between the government and the parliament to continue holding consultative meetings during the coming period.
Regarding the economic situation that was covered in the meeting, Shboul explained that the meeting detailed the state’s public finances.
He stressed that the measures recently taken by the government, such as reversing the rise in the prices of oil derivatives globally on the local price, are aimed at preventing harsh economic conditions.
He noted that the rise in the prices of fuels and commodities was the result of many circumstances, the most important of which is the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and its impacts on the global economy and, thus, the local economy.
Shboul indicated that the meeting featured immediate decisions by the Prime Minister based on MPs observations, foremost of which was halting all measures taken by the JFDA regarding the entry of pharmaceutical drugs from abroad into Jordan, and the dissolution of all boards of directors of the chambers of industry and commerce a month before the elections.
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