His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday stressed that all efforts should focus on improving citizens' living conditions and overcoming economic hardships.

King Abdullah emphasised that team work will enable Jordan to overcome the challenges it faces.

Addressing the consultative council of Ruseifa District, which spreads over an area of 40 square kilometres and is home to over 500,000 citizens, the King said easing difficult living conditions of Jordanians is his top priority.

“We are all one team working to realise this goal, and we work day and night to mitigate the difficulties you are undergoing. Better times will come,” King Abdullah told the council, which groups representatives of all sectors in the district, 20km to east of Amman.

The King express relief over the quality of cooperation between the government and the Lower House, stressing that sound partnership among state institutions and the ability of these parties to identify priorities will enable the country to address the economic challenges at hand. He said recent problems have arisen within the context of the global economic crisis.

At the meeting, King Abdullah was briefed on the needs and demands of the district, which is part of the Governorate of Zarqa.

In his remarks, the King urged short- and long-term planning to address Ruseifa's woes, citing environment pollution, shortage of public services and demographic pressure. He directed concerned officials to improve healthcare centres in the district and build an additional one.

King Abdullah also ordered the building of a new school and youth facilities as soon as possible, urging the government to accelerate plans to address the environmental problems in the district, especially the “phosphate hills”, an area on the eastern edge of the town of abandoned phosphate mines that has become an environmental hot spot.

The Jordan Phosphate Mines Company started operations in the area in the 1930s, and the plant was relocated to the south of the country in the 1980s.

King Abdullah also instructed the government to improve services and infrastructure in the district as soon as possible.

Prime Minister Samir Rifai underlined other major problems such as the presence of dumpsters and high population density that puts pressure on services and infrastructure.

For example, he said the district's healthcare facilities are not sufficient to meet the population growth, noting that there are two beds for every 10,000 persons in Ruseifa, compared with an average of 18 beds for each 10,000 in the rest of the Kingdom.

Stressing that the government is keen to rectify the such imbalances, the premier reviewed projects and financial allocations for the area in the budget.

Rifai said the government is prioritising projects for Ruseifa, some of which can be delayed to a later stage.

Rifai added that a master plan to enhance the situation of the district is being finalised and will be completed soon.

He added that the expansion and rehabilitation of Prince Feisal Hospital is under way, adding that a kidney dialysis unit at the hospital will be installed this year.

Rifai said the new JD70 million public hospital in adjacent Zarqa city, which has a total capacity of 453 beds, will be inaugurated during the first quarter of 2012 and will also serve Ruseifa's residents.

The premier said that a total of JD5.5 million has been allocated to refurbish the worn-out water and sewage networks in area.

He added that the government has allocated JD41 million for the rehabilitation of water and sewage networks in the Zarqa governorate, noting that the project will start in mid-2012 and is scheduled to be completed by 2016.

Moreover, a school and several additional classrooms to existing schools will be built in the district to reduce overcrowding, he said, adding that the government will create youth centres, while the Ministry of Environment has plans to solve the environmental problems.

Rifai added that a committee chaired by the interior minister is looking into illegal squatting on state lands in the district.

At the meeting, members of the council reviewed the district's needs and challenges it faces.

They called for enhancing the situation of the district's infrastructure, creating public parks and a green cover, in addition to building a stadium in the town.

The representatives also urged for the creation of a fund supporting small- and medium-sized projects, especially since the district is home to 8,000 commercial outlets and industrial establishments.