Jordan's King Abdullah II set to lift Covid state of emergency in 'next few months'

Restrictions were imposed in March 2020 with onset of the coronavirus

King Abdullah II of Jordan said the country was looking forward to 'stopping working under the defence orders'. EPA

Jordan's King Abdullah II said on Wednesday he will lift the emergency laws imposed when the pandemic began more than two years ago.

In a televised speech he said authorities were also working on economic and public sector reform plans to modernise the country of 10 million people.

“We are looking forward to stopping working under the defence orders in the next few months, to turn the page on the coronavirus crisis,” the king said in his speech to mark the kingdom's independence day.

A short time after the speech, Jordan's prime minister issued a decision to drop mask mandates in public places and enclosed spaces, official news agency Petra reported.

The authorities lifted coronavirus rules last year, except mask wearing, which was loosely enforced.

In March 2020, the monarch handed expansive powers to the government and security forces to enforce a state of emergency to counter the pandemic.

Among the measures were curfews and bans on public gatherings — part of a crackdown on dissent.

In the aftermath, Jordan's economy plunged into recession, which the government blamed on the pandemic.

It contracted by 2 per cent in 2020, as unemployment reached a record of 25 per cent, official figures indicated.

However, the economy grew 2 per cent in 2021, official data showed. The government expects another 2 per cent growth this year. Economic stagnation and high unemployment has persisted in Jordan since the late 2000s.

The king, 60, said modernisation "is not complete without a strong economy that increases growth rates and creates job opportunities".

King Abdullah II holds all significant powers in the country. In the past few months he invited loyalist businessmen and academics to present their ideas on how to advance the economy at private seminars organised by the Royal Court.

He said "we will be launching an integrated economic vision for the years ahead, which will be a comprehensive point of reference".

Jordan is aid dependent, receiving an annual $1.6 billion in US aid and a similar amount of assistance from European countries. A large part of the country's foreign currency inflow comes from expatriate workers, particularly those from Gulf nations.

The king said a programme to make the public sector more efficient would soon be finalised.

He said it was aimed "at enhancing the level of services offered to citizens, streamlining bureaucratic procedures, bolstering workforce efficiency".

"Economic progress is not possible without prudent and efficient administration," the king said.

He said modernisation should have a "direct impact on citizens’ quality and standards of living".

Jordan became an independent kingdom in 1946, while maintaining strong ties with Britain, which played a vital role in the founding of the country in 1921. King Abdullah, the great-grandfather of the current ruler, was Jordan's first monarch.

The king received independence day congratulations from regional leaders on Wednesday.

These included the President, Sheikh Mohamed and Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.