Amman, August 16 (Petra) – The Cabinet approved on Sunday amended
bylaws for groundwater monitoring and wholesale produce markets while
reviewing second-quarter investment figures and endorsing leadership
appointments.

The amended groundwater monitoring bylaw establishes legal frameworks
to address long-standing licensing issues for agricultural wells
across the Kingdom. Under the new rules, well owners have until early
June 2027 to rectify their regulatory status. The bylaw mandates the
installation of smart water meters to curb waste, prevent illegal
tapping, and monitor aquifer extraction levels to ensure water
security.

The Cabinet amended the wholesale produce market bylaw to tighten
regulatory oversight by the Ministries of Local Administration and
Agriculture. The changes allow municipalities to establish joint
wholesale markets through official agreements, reducing operational
costs and optimizing marketing efficiency.

The reforms aim to balance producer and consumer prices, eliminate
unregulated sales, and support food security goals outlined in the
Economic Modernization Vision.

As part of ongoing public sector modernization, the Cabinet endorsed
an administrative restructuring bylaw for the General Budget
Department. The update aims to improve organizational efficiency,
enhance financial planning, expand digital services, and leverage
data analytics for budget preparation.

The Cabinet reviewed investment statistics from the second quarter of
2026, noting that 21 investors were granted Jordanian citizenship
after bringing over USD33 million in capital and employing 767 local
workers, while six others obtained residency, representing nearly JD2
million in investments. This brings the total number of investors
granted citizenship since the program’s 2021 inception to 687.

The Cabinet approved several senior administrative appointments and
transfers:

– Waseem Adwan was appointed Secretary-General of the Ministry of
Public Works and Housing for Technical Affairs.

– Raed Halahleh was appointed Secretary-General of the Ministry of
Public Works and Housing for Administrative and Financial Affairs.

– Nawaf Akeel was transferred to Secretary-General of the Ministry of
Education and Human Resources Development for School Affairs.

– Sahar Shakhatreh was transferred to Secretary-General of the
Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development for Education
Affairs.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved the retirement of four Interior
Ministry governors: Firas Qaaida, Hassan Jabour, Malek Khreisat, and
Hakim Khreisha.

//Petra// HA