Amman, Jan. 11 (Petra) – Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said the government has a clear work programme and a comprehensive understanding of the scale of the requirements and challenges it faces, stressing its determination to advance solutions and achieve tangible accomplishments.

In a special interview with Jordanian TV, aired Sunday evening and conducted by journalist Anas Majali, Hassan said the government's second executive programme, which will be launched soon, includes dozens of initiatives, programmes and legislative measures.

He said that the modernisation vision represents Jordan's project for the future, noting that the most important objective of all government programmes is to ensure job opportunities and sustainable income for Jordanian youth.

The Prime Minister said that fieldwork is "my method and school of work," affirming that he would continue this approach until the final day of the government's term.

He noted that he visited 130 sites across the Kingdom in 2025 and that at each site either positive change was implemented or solutions were found for some existing problems. "We will continue these visits, as well as holding Cabinet meetings in the governorates," he added.

The Prime Minister stressed that the credibility of the government, and of any official, depends on their ability to adhere to commitments and fulfill promises.

In this context, he said the decision to provide treatment for more than four million Jordanians at the King Hussein Cancer Centre constitutes the most important decision taken by the government.

He highlighted major strategic projects valued at approximately $11 billion, which are set to begin implementation in 2026 and continue over the next four to five years.

"We aim to cover more than 80% of our sectors' natural gas needs from the Risha field," the Prime Minister said.

He pointed out that the Amra City project is designed to serve the expected large population growth in Amman and Zarqa, stressing that it is neither a new capital nor a new administrative capital.

The Prime Minister emphasised that Jordan's international and regional relations are governed first and foremost by the Kingdom's interests, security and stability.

He said that Syria's success is Jordan's and the success of the Arab region as a whole, noting that Jordan supports efforts to rebuild Syrian institutions and extend state control over all Syrian territory.

The Prime Minister added that border security with Syria is a fundamental and pivotal issue, adding that water is likewise a strategic matter of national security and that reaching a fair water agreement with the Syrian side is essential.

The following is the text of the interview: Interviewer: It has been approximately fifteen months since the formation of Jafar Hassan's government, during which it has dealt with numerous political, economic, social and developmental challenges.

In this special interview with His Excellency Jafar Hassan, we discuss the past year and the key files the government will address in the coming months. Your Excellency, welcome to this special interview on Jordanian Television.

Prime Minister: Good evening. My greetings to you, and my appreciation to Jordanian Television, this venerable institution on whose programs we grew up. I wish it continued success in the coming year, which we hope will be a year of prosperity for our country, our wise Hashemite leadership, and our dear people.

God willing, the blessed rains we have witnessed will mark a good beginning to a year we strive to make one of construction, achievement, and prosperity for Jordan and its people.

Question: From the moment the government was formed and appointed by Royal Decree, there were clear directives to continue national modernisation programmes and to boldly take decisions that benefit citizens, as well as an emphasis on direct engagement in the field.

After nearly fifteen months, have these tours had a tangible impact on the ground? Answer: First, this government has a very clear work programme. We are fully aware of the requirements and challenges before us, and of how to move forward with solutions and achievements.

The Royal Decree is clear, as are the tasks entrusted to us. There is also the government's action plan, or executive programme, for the coming years, which we will launch in the coming days.

It includes dozens of initiatives, programmes and pieces of legislation, all governed by clear timelines and subject to evaluation and measurable impact assessments during the coming period.

These programmes and projects are based on the vision for economic modernisation, as well as administrative and political modernisation.

These modernisation visions constitute Jordan's project for the future and the most important goal of all our programmes is to guarantee job opportunities and income for our youth over the next decade.

This is fundamental, and all efforts are focused on achieving this objective.

With regard to field visits, they are not optional for any Prime Minister. This is stipulated in the Royal Mandate, and His Majesty the King has clearly directed the government to engage directly with citizens.

This is a natural and essential aspect of governmental work. It is His Majesty's approach, and I have had the honour of working with him for several years. This is my method and my school of thought, and I will continue with it until the last day of this government's term.

This approach has become institutional for this government, whether through the Prime Minister's field visits or the nearly monthly Cabinet meetings held in each governorate.

This is particularly important to me with regard to development programmes in the governorates and the focus on advancing their development.

As Prime Minister, I visited 130 sites last year. At each site, positive change was implemented, solutions were found to problems in the education, health and youth sectors, or progress was achieved in productive sectors affecting the lives of hundreds or thousands of citizens.

I consider this a significant achievement, and I believe that dedicating even a single day by the Prime Minister to such work is an important and worthwhile investment.

There is, of course, an opinion that such field visits fall within the responsibilities of ministers or executive departments.

Answer: Indeed, this is the responsibility of ministers, local administrations, education and health directorates and other relevant bodies. However, this does not preclude the Prime Minister from delving into details, following up and pressing officials as needed.

Ultimately, it is the Prime Minister's right, duty and responsibility to be present in the field and to engage directly with citizens in order to understand their challenges firsthand and address them strategically.

A problem that exists in one village or governorate may not exist elsewhere. Therefore, it is essential for the Prime Minister to be fully informed of such issues in detail and on the ground, so that when they are discussed at the strategic decision-making level, all dimensions are clearly understood. I personally consider this extremely important.

When His Majesty the King emphasises fieldwork, I see no reason why it should not be among the Prime Minister's foremost duties and responsibilities.

Question: The Cabinet held meetings in all governorates last year. Will you return to the governorates to inform citizens openly about what has been achieved? Answer: I have held the entire government accountable. Every minister has committed to specific projects within their sector before elected bodies and governorate representatives, with clear implementation timelines. Ultimately, I am accountable to the ministers and this reflects the commitment of the government as a whole.

At the Prime Minister's Office, a dedicated department follows up on every site I visited and all directives issued to ensure that procedures and solutions are implemented swiftly and in coordination with all relevant ministries. I personally follow up on this issue weekly to ensure that all commitments made during field visits are fulfilled.

Today, I firmly believe that the credibility of the government and of any official depends on their ability to honour commitments and deliver on promises.

The focus of field visits has been primarily on the education and health sectors, which are the most important sectors for citizens, who expect high-quality services.

Last year, approximately 37 schools were constructed, and this year we will nearly double that number with the construction of close to 80 schools. Over the next five years, we will complete the construction of 500 new schools, which will significantly improve the education sector.

In addition, maintenance work is underway on existing school buildings, and hundreds of kindergarten classrooms will be built, enabling us to accommodate approximately 9,000 additional children in kindergartens within the next two years alone.

During field visits, 100 schools were identified as being in urgent need of intervention.

I take this opportunity to thank private sector institutions that have contributed more than JOD150 million over the next three years to support the education and health sectors through corporate social responsibility initiatives, which has greatly enhanced our ability to implement these projects.

Question: Will visits to the governorates and Cabinet meetings outside the capital continue this year? Answer: Absolutely. We will continue this practice throughout this year and until the final day of the government’s term. It is an institutional and systematic approach that will continue.

Question: Among the many decisions taken over the past year, which do you consider the most impactful on citizens’ lives? Answer: The most impactful decision, in my view, and one I personally consider among the most important, is providing insurance coverage for more than four million citizens at the King Hussein Cancer Centre.

This decision brings reassurance to citizens and preserves their dignity, as well as that of their families and children, should they be afflicted by this disease.

The least we can do for any citizen suffering from cancer is to provide the best possible opportunity for treatment at the King Hussein Cancer Cenre, without additional hardship or psychological burden.

The government has allocated approximately JOD124 million in this year's budget to cover insurance for around four million beneficiaries at the Centre. The health sector, alongside the education sector, will remain a key focus in the coming period.

More to follow.

//Petra// AK