$90m to be spent on Paktika development

GHAZNICITY (PAN): Development schemes worth $90 million (4.1274 billion afghanis) would be implemented during the current year in the southeastern province of Paktika, an official said on Monday.

$70 million will be provided by the Provincial Reconstruction) and the rest by different ministries.

Governor Mohibullah Samim told Pajhwok Afghan News in an exclusive interview that 100 kilometres of roads, school buildings, water dams and a health care centre would be constructed.

Some of the schemes were already underway and were monitored by government officials, he said, adding the projects would be completed by the end of the year.

The security environment in the province had improved, compared to the past three years, he said. As a result, he continued, the authorities were hopeful of executing the uplift schemes on time.

Provincial council head, Fazal Rahman Katawazai, said Paktika would be considerably developed because of people’s cooperation with the government.

Residents needed better education facilities, he said, urging the government to focus on developing the sector on a fast-track basis.

Katawazai believed security had improved with a decline in Taliban.

myn/mud