Insecurity delaying infrastructure projects: governors

KABUL (Pajhwok): Six provincial governors on Saturday presented their suggestions to a Cabinet meeting regarding infrastructure projects, governance and security, officials said.

After attending the Cabinet meeting, the governors of Bamyan, Herat, Parwan, Diakundi, Nimroz and Kapisa provinces addressed a joint press conference here.

They hailed the government’s decision to invite governors to Cabinet meetings and said it would maintain links and coordination between the central government and provinces.

Bamyan Governor Tahir Zohair said provinces had no legal status and governors were considered as special representatives of the president and directors as representatives of ministers.

But he said the aim of the president to invite governors to Cabinet meetings was to enable the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) to maintain proper links between the central authority and provinces and to ensure that all provincial departments were answerable to governors. He presented the problems and priorities of Bamyan province and got commitments from the ministers concerned.

Herat Governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi said construction of an irrigation canal on Salma dam, Herat-Chesht-i-Sharif road, Herat cement factory, the expansion of Herat airport and others were some of his administration’s priorities he presented at the Cabinet meeting.

Rahimi said he was concerned about acting directors and the ministers had pledged necessary measures to resolve the issue.

He said there were security threats in Herat, but the threats could be managed if security forces took necessary steps.

Parwan governor Mohammad Asim Asim said there were dozens of schools in his province lacking buildings. He said the education minister promised him to construct buildings for such schools.

He said his province faced security threats due to the busy Kabul-North highway and the military base in Bagram district, warning that some districts in Parwan had turned into safe heavens for Taliban.

Diakundi governor Masooma Muradi said her province could not be developed so far and there were problems like lack of electricity, roads, buildings for departments, airport, staff of two districts.

Similarly Nimroz governor Mohammad Sami said coordination between security organs was the reason behind improved security in his province, adding Nimroz needed attention in areas of education, health.

Kapisa governor Syed Mohammad Khalid Hashimi said security issues had halted the implementation of infrastructure projects in his province.

Militants were active in Tagab, Alasai and some parts of Najrab districts and security officials in Kabul pledged to take action in this regard, he said.

myn/ma