Mulki urges facilitating customs, land registration procedures

AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Monday stressed the importance of processing transactions at public agencies quickly and without delay, in a way that “respectful to the dignity of employees and citizens alike”.

Mulki made his remarks during visits to the Department of Land and Survey (DLS) and the Jordan Customs Department (JCD), where he also called on their employees to avoid any wrong practices, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During his visit to the DLS, the premier said that property ownership deeds are guarantors for people and are protected against any manipulation.

He commended the procedure the department has recently started implementing by sending an SMS to citizens whenever any transaction happens in relation to their properties.

Mulki stressed the importance of finding solutions to violations against state property, through adopting legal and humanitarian solutions.

DLS Director General Muin Sayegh reviewed the department’s plans that aim at facilitating procedures for citizens and investors, noting that the DLS has computerised its transactions and the information of citizens’ properties according to national numbers to avoid any problems that may arise due to having similar names.

At the JCD, Mulki praised the efforts of the department’s employees, and their measures in dealing with outlaws, highlighting the importance of applying integrity and neutrality, especially when estimating prices of goods.

The prime minister called for considering the possibility for JCD and the Income and Sales Tax Department employees to submit financial disclosure statements, adding that such a suggestion is not meant to suspect the integrity of employees, but to enhance transparency.

He called for stiffening penalties against those who present forged customs declarations, such as imposing temporary ban of import against them and blacklisting them if they repeat such acts.

JCD Director General Maj. Gen. Wadah Hmoud said the department seeks to buy new vehicles for its work in monitring and capturing smugglers.  

During his visit to the JCD, Mulki was shown an architectural model of the JD96 million Maduneh customs centre project, which will replace the Amman customs centre.