Amman, February 15 (Petra) – The Cabinet on Sunday approved the payment of JD125 million in accumulated arrears, raising the total settled in recent weeks to around JD275 million as part of a government plan to clear longstanding financial obligations.

The payments include about JD60 million owed by ministries and public institutions to electricity distribution companies, JD35 million in dues by the Yarmouk Water Company and the Water Authority to electricity providers, and JD30 million owed to printing presses contracted by the Ministry of Education.

Last week, the government settled more than JD100 million in dues to public universities, including JD40 million to King Abdullah University Hospital and JD10 million to the University of Jordan Hospital.

Chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, the Cabinet approved a draft amendment to the Real Estate Ownership Law, referring it to the House of Representatives.

The amendments aim to resolve long-standing joint ownership disputes, enable electronic sales and signatures, digitise procedures and allow off-plan land sales under regulated conditions.

The draft replaces the requirement for unanimous consent in property division with approval from three-quarters of owners and sets a five-year deadline for compensation on expropriated land.

The changes are expected to enhance investment and strengthen confidence in the real estate sector.

The Cabinet endorsed justifications for amending the Civil Status Law to introduce digital identity as an officially recognised form of identification alongside the national ID card.

The move is part of broader public sector digital transformation efforts and aims to facilitate secure electronic transactions.

Other decisions included approving the 2026 Administrative Organisation Bylaw for the Ministry of Labour, transferring responsibility for the Risha gas pipeline project to the National Petroleum Company, reviewing Ramadan plans by the Ministry of Awqaf, appointing Adnan Sawa’ir as Chairman of the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority's Board of Commissioners, and renewing the appointments of four board members.

//Petra// AK