AMMAN — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Saturday conducted a field tour of Mafraq Governorate, during which he inspected several development, health and tourism sites.

 

The prime minister launched construction works for Mafraq’s new public park, coinciding with Tree Day celebrations. The project will span 200 dunums and is intended to serve as a recreational outlet for residents of the governorate, according to a Prime Ministry statement.

 

In the presence of Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khreisat and Al al-Bayt University President Osama Nseir, the prime minister reviewed master plans for the park, which will feature nearly 10,000 newly planted trees, playgrounds, picnic and green areas, sports facilities, family amenities, and parking spaces.

 

Hassan directed officials to study the possibility of expanding the park’s area and adding indoor sports halls to accommodate a wider range of activities, in addition to expanding the designated walking track. The establishment of the park was first announced during a Cabinet session held in Mafraq, following Al al-Bayt University’s allocation of 200 dunums for the project.

 

During his field tour, the prime minister also visited Mafraq Governmental Hospital, where, in the presence of Minister of Health Ibrahim Baddour, he instructed that the tender for constructing a new hospital building be floated before the end of the month without delay.

 

The planned facility will include an emergency department with a capacity of 55 beds, a dialysis unit with 30 stations, and 10 intensive care beds. An additional floor will also be added to the outpatient clinics building to enhance services at the hospital, which serves nearly 700,000 people.

 

Hassan also inspected the Mafraq Primary Health Care Centre at its new location, which he had previously instructed be relocated from its former building. Touring the centre’s facilities, he stressed the importance of upgrading services, improving infrastructure, and ensuring continuous maintenance for the benefit of more than 37,000 residents who rely on the centre.

 

At the Rihab archaeological site, home to several ancient churches and heritage landmarks, the prime minister, accompanied by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazin, directed that the site be incorporated into tourism routes and promoted internationally, given its historical significance.

 

He also underscored the need to accelerate restoration and maintenance works, particularly the preservation of mosaic floors, rehabilitation of pathways within the heritage village, and the training of local community members to serve as tour guides.

 

The Rihab archaeological site includes notable historical landmarks such as St. George’s Church, the Cave Church, St. Mary’s Church, the ecclesiastical complex and the Church of St. John the Baptist, among others.