His Majesty King Abdullah said on Sunday that improving the situation of the country's cities and villages is a top priority, emphasising that he would continue tours of villages to ensure they are properly covered by development projects.

At a meeting on Sunday with representatives from the northern Koura District, home to some 110,000 residents, King Abdullah said: “I want to see development in every Jordanian village: infrastructure, education and health. We will extend all support possible to realise this goal.”

His Majesty underlined the significance of a comprehensive land use blueprint the government is working on to cover the entire Kingdom.

The King said it is important for the plan to be implemented in partnership with local communities to meet the requirements of growth, development and modernisation, taking into consideration the guidelines set by economic, agricultural and tourism development policies.

His Majesty, who met with Koura community leaders during a tour of the district last week, said he was keen to ensure that residents' demands and needs are met.

Sunday's meeting was a follow up on the Koura visit, where the King said he would be meeting with the area's representatives in the presence of the government to coordinate plans set for the rural district.

At last week's meeting, the King ordered a comprehensive plan to address the district's problems and meet its needs.

The plan entails the allocation of JD4 million to implement several projects in the fields of health, education and services.

Also on Sunday, King Abdullah said a comprehensive plan the Ministry of Environment is working on in nearby Ajloun Governorate and the surrounding areas should run in harmony with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs' land use plans.

His Majesty stressed the key role of the young generation in development plans for their areas.

In line with King Abdullah's vision, Prime Minister Nader Dahabi said the government is planning to prepare a comprehensive plan for the Kingdom that entails a set of rules to regulate construction, infrastructure and environment.

The plan will also take into consideration the special features of each area, the premier said.

Minister of Municipal Affairs Shihadeh Abu Hdeib said the comprehensive plan for Koura District will be finalised in four months, noting that an initial analysis of the area's situation has already been completed.