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RIYADH/AMMAN: ��������Ƶ will host a special conference on Sunday aimed at charting a course for Jordan out of its economic crisis.

King Salman called the meeting in Makkah after a series of street protests in Amman over planned austerity measures culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki.

His successor, Omar Al-Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, announced on Thursday that a controversial IMF-backed income tax bill would be withdrawn. ��

Sunday’s conference will be attended by representatives from ��������Ƶ, the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan “to discuss means of supporting Jordan to overcome its current crisis,”�� the Saudi Press Agency said.

The conference was welcomed in the Arab world.��

��������Ƶ “senses the importance of its role in safeguarding security and stability, and implementing subsidy and support initiatives,” said Muslim World League Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa.

Jordan’s former deputy prime minister Jawad Anani told Arab News: “The first priority is to cover the $723 million that Jordan was expecting from the IMF had it passed the income tax reform.”��

He suggested a bridging grant until the new government could negotiate a new income tax law.

In the middle to long term, ��������Ƶ and other Gulf states “can increase their investment in Jordan and can open up their markets to Jordanian products,” Anani said.��

Sabri A. Rbeihat, a former Jordanian government minister, called for a long-term solution�� based on responsibility and mutual respect.

“Our Gulf neighbors need to look at Jordan as a regional partner and to help Jordan out with the responsibilities that our country is bearing on behalf of all Arabs, including the Syrian crisis,” he said.��

The IMF has welcomed a call by King Abdullah for a national dialogue on taxes. It will work with Jordan’s new government to complete a program review as quickly as possible to release about $70 million in funding, it said.

“It’s critical that the benefits of costs and reforms are balanced, across all sectors of the economy, with a greater focus on those that have a greater capacity to pay, while protecting the most vulnerable,” said IMF spokesman Gerry Rice.��

“At the same time, recent events also confirm the critical importance of bold reforms to address high unemployment, particularly among youth and women.”

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