Amman: The Lower House of Representatives convened on Wednesday for a legislative session led by Speaker Ahmad Safadi, with Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan and members of the Cabinet in attendance, to address lawmakers’ questions about the government’s strategies and responses.
According to Jordan News Agency, during the session, MP Dima Tahboub raised questions concerning the government’s emergency strategies and procedures for potential political and security developments surrounding Jordan. In response, Interior Minister Mazen Faraya assured the assembly that Jordan’s military and security agencies have crafted confidential plans to manage such scenarios effectively.
In addressing another query, Minister Faraya disclosed that Jordan currently has 1,495 administrative detainees. He emphasized that administrative detention is based on clear reasons and the convicts’ information, aiming to protect public peace. Additionally, he noted that administrative governors handled 27,000 complaints related to this policy last year.
The session also included a discussion led by Minister of Labor Khaled Bakkar, who reported that 288,000 expatriate workers hold valid work permits in Jordan, while 53,000 others have permits that expired after June 1, 2021. MP Aref Sa’eeda expressed surprise at the figures, referencing data from the Egyptian Embassy in Amman that suggests the presence of 925,000 Egyptian workers in Jordan.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh responded to inquiries from MP Khamis Attia regarding energy costs. He stated that the cost of generating electricity from the Attarat project is 11 piasters per kilowatt, with potential fluctuations based on the project’s operating rate. Kharabsheh also mentioned that the Ministry of Energy plans to conduct a specialized study on the costs of exploiting Jordan’s oil shale, with results to be announced upon completion.