Zarqa and Umm ar-Rasas, Sep. 14 (Petra) – Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Sunday inspected key health, education, tourism, and social sites in Zarqa Governorate and Umm ar-Rasas Area, issuing directives to enhance services, infrastructure, and community development.

At Zarqa Government Hospital, accompanied by the Minister of Health and Zarqa’s Governor, the Prime Minister toured departments and received feedback from patients and staff. The hospital, with 494 beds serving over two million citizens, handles about 1,500 patients daily. Hassan ordered the expansion of intensive care capacity from 17 to 67 beds by year-end, additional medical staffing, upgraded waiting areas, and an improved mechanism for patient feedback.

At Sebawayh Elementary School for Boys in Qasaba al-Zarqa District, established in 1976 and serving over 380 students, the Prime Minister called for a new 12-classroom building with a computer lab and teachers’ lounge, renovation of the existing facility, and construction of student playgrounds.

In Umm ar-Rasas, Hassan inspected the 1,200-dunam archaeological site featuring 16 ancient churches, a fort, a tower, and historical relics. In the presence of the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, he emphasized landmark restoration, visitor service improvements, and road completion, highlighting the site’s role as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed attraction to boost domestic and international tourism.

At the Umm ar-Rasas Women’s Cooperative Society, the Prime Minister, with the Minister of Agriculture, reviewed training programs and local production initiatives. He instructed enhanced support, facility upgrades, equipment provision, and marketing of handicrafts at nearby tourist sites and through the digital platform "Khirat al-Dar," expanding opportunities for women and small-scale producers.

//Petra// AJ