His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday directed the government to allocate a percentage of shares in companies that will be privatized and offer these shares for sale to personnel and pensioners of the military, public security, intelligence and civil defence forces.



The King said the shares should be sold at preferential prices and that arrangements for installment payments be introduced.



Speaking at a Royal Court meeting with senior officers from the four branches, King Abdullah stressed that the members of these institutions must be guaranteed a solid livelihood and future. He said their “dedication to and sacrifices for the country” merit these standards.



“I realize that every male and female citizen, foremost among them, the members of Arab Legion, Public Security, the General Intelligence and the Civil Defence, should benefit from the gains of development,” King Abdullah told the meeting, which was held to mark Army Day and Arab Revolt Day, celebrated annually on June 10.



Jordan has adopted a multitrack privatization approach, including a method by which the government sells its stake in public shareholding companies directly to investors.



The King said the past six years have seen several achievements realized in Jordan at the socio-economic and political levels.



For his part, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff General Khaled Sarayreh sent a message of thanks to King Abdullah, vowing that the Jordan Armed Forces will always be the protector of the reform process and the achievements of the country.

The Jordan Times