Amman, Nov. 30 (Petra) -- The Parliamentary Committee on National Guidance and Media on Sunday approved a draft amendment to the Official Gazette Law of 2025, marking a significant step toward modernizing the Kingdom’s official publication. The amendment allows the Gazette to be issued both in print and electronically and cancels the position of Manager of the Official Gazette.

The Cabinet approved the draft law during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on October 19. According to the explanatory memorandum, the amendment seeks to harmonize the Gazette’s framework with legislative and technological developments. It also establishes a mechanism to regulate publication in both print and digital formats and grants the electronic version the same legal authority as the print edition. Furthermore, the amendment allows the Prime Minister to issue editions of the Gazette as needed, supplementing the established publication schedule.

Minister of State for Legal Affairs Fayyad Qudah explained that the draft law aims to keep pace with technological advancements and streamline government procedures by enabling full electronic publication. He noted that the previous law, dating back to 1949, required urgent modernization to align with current digital standards.

Qudah added that the electronic Gazette will be managed by a specialized employee, and a dedicated website is planned to facilitate access. Currently, the Gazette’s contents are already available free of charge through the Prime Ministry’s website.

Chair of the committee Hussein Omoush said it endorsed the draft after thorough discussions, stressing that electronic publication must be managed under a clear regulatory framework, particularly following the abolition of the Director position.

The committee also reviewed its work plan for the upcoming phase. Omoush emphasized that the plan remains flexible to accommodate emerging developments and said the committee will consult with media-sector stakeholders and experts to address challenges facing journalists and follow up on files handled by the previous committee.

//Petra// AJ

30/11/2025 14:37:37