Jordan Times
Sunday, September 12, 1999
King instructs govt to allocate JD70 million to finance housing projects
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah has directed the government to allocate JD70 million generated from the sale of public enterprises to finance housing projects for teachers, Armed Forces personnel and low-income citizens including government employees.
In a letter to Prime Minister Abdur-Ra'uf S. Rawabdeh, King Abdullah said the government should draft a housing loan plan that would draw on these allocations and provide low and interest-free loans to these groups for the construction of appropriate housing units.
The King, who wrote that he was proud of the government's efforts in shouldering its responsibility to serve the nation and its people, had said upon ascending to the Throne that his number one priority is to ensure improvement in people's living standards.
“We will do all we can to help the Jordanian people enjoy a decent life marked by reassurance and stability,” the King said in his letter to the premier.
“Our Armed Forces serve as the shield that protects the homeland, they stand out as the symbol of the country's dignity and independence and have always sacrificed in defence of the nation,” King Abdullah stressed.
“In appreciation of their services and their continued endeavours and sacrifice we must help them enjoy a decent and stable life, enabling them to shoulder their duties as best as they can. In order to assist them in securing housing for themselves and their dependants, I have directed that the government earmark JD10 million to be used in granting Armed Forces personnel interest-free loans to achieve that end.”
The Jordan Armed Forces currently provides JD20,000 interest-free loans to officers and JD5,000 to other ranks. Major housing projects built in the past 30 years include Al Hussein Housing Complex in the Rabia neighbourhood of Amman from 1970, Abu Nuseir suburb north of Amman from the late 1970s, and low-income housing in Marka from the 1980s.
The King also earmarked JD10 million for housing projects for public school teachers. He said these public servants “have contributed to the development and construction of modern Jordan and have set a good example to others and offered distinguished service to the nation.”
The bulk of the JD70 million allocation (JD50 million) is to be earmarked for the provision of low-interest housing loans to civil servants in the low income bracket.
In January 1996 a Housing and Urban Development study estimated that Jordan's demands for housing would reach 134,000 units over four years.
The King instructed the government to implement the new plan as soon as possible.
In reply to the King, Rawabdeh said he pledged to introduce amendments to the present legislation to allow for the provision of these allocations.