His Majesty King Abdullah gave orders on Monday for implementing several health and education schemes in the southern governorate of Tafileh to improve living conditions of its citizens.

At a meeting with Tafileh residents and representatives, the King said he was aware of the challenges and the situation citizens are going through, adding: "I will follow up on all your demands with the government and if the state budget lacks the required funds, we will provide additional support to meet them."

"I want you to rest assured that we will work with the government to remove all the obstacles and the problems you face," King Abdullah told local community leaders of the area, which is inhabited by some 80,000 people.

The King said Monday that he would be working with the government to draw up plans and programmes necessary to help address the inherent challenges in the rural district.

His Majesty said it was also important to develop the services in the governorate and optimally tap its geographic and touristic potential especially since the area is rich in natural resources.

As Tafileh residents referred to the drought farmers suffered this year, which they said negatively affected the agricultural sector, King Abdullah said he supported plans to build dams to address the shortage of water.

Upon the King's directives, a team will head to the governorate to study the establishment of a teachers' club, a forensic unit at the Prince Zeid Ben Al Hussein Hospital, creating a parallel road to the main road in the town to tackle traffic congestion, in addition to supplying Tafileh Municipality with the required equipment to carry out its responsibilities, among others.

Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, who was at the meeting, noted that an agreement was signed last week with Rich Pine Company, which will set up a garment factory in Tafileh.

The factory, which will be functional by the end of this year, will create some 400 jobs for Tafileh women, said the premier, adding that the government will contribute monthly payments to workers hired by factory during their training.

To address the issue of the sewage network, which Tafileh leaders labelled as urgent since only some 23 per cent of the governorate is served with such a network, Dahabi said covering the entire governorate with a sewage network requires JD12-15 million.

He stressed that although there is difficulty in extending the networks due to the rough geography of the mountainous district, the government would proceed with relevant plans to address the issue.

Dahabi added that the Prince Zeid Ben Al Hussein Hospital would be provided with the required medical cadres and specialties.

He said that the government would restudy the exemption of small farmers from loans to help them face the difficult situation experienced by the agricultural sector in the governorate.

During Monday's visit, King Abdullah inaugurated Ibn Taimiah School, a four-storey building constructed under a Royal makruma at a total cost of JD1.1 million to replace the old schools in Tafileh city centre. He also opened the Tafileh Youth Centre.