His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday directed the government to undertake several projects in the education, health, industry and service sectors in the district of Dhiban in order to support job creation and enhance the living conditions of area residents.

At a meeting with community leaders and representatives of Dhiban, located some 50 kilometres south of Amman with a population of 60,000, King Abdullah instructed the concerned authorities to establish a university college to be affiliated to one of the country's public universities to meet the aspirations and needs of the local community.

He also urged the Industrial Estates Corporation to give priority to developing infrastructure at the district's industrial estate and attract investments in partnership with the private sector. The King also instructed the Jordan Armed Forces and other security institutions to recruit 1,500 Dhiban residents into their ranks.

During the visit, King Abdullah visited the home of Khetmah Mohammad Hawawsheh, and issued orders for building a new house for the widow and her family.

Community leaders reviewed the district's needs, putting poverty alleviation and unemployment at the top of the list, describing them as high and wide spread phenomena in the area.

Stressing the need for proceeding with the reform process, community leaders also emphasized their support for efforts to curb corruption and underlined the importance of preserving national unity.

Senator Abed Shakhanbeh said regional developments require safeguarding national unity and supporting the leadership to strengthen the Kingdom in the face of various challenges.

Noting that the district is home to a "large" number of educated but unemployed young people, the senator called for the implementation of development projects that create jobs and for a fund to finance income-generating projects in the area.

Member of Parliament Abdul Jalil Sleimat said reforms should be accelerated, adding that developments in the region represent an opportunity to enhance democracy.

He noted that poverty and unemployment among youth are a major challenge in the Dhiban area where roughly 20 per cent of families have three to four university degree holders who are unemployed.

Area representatives also called for the establishment of youth centres, the implementation of development projects, support for farmers and addressing the area’s water shortage.