<p>KANDAHAR CITY (<a href="/en/pan" class="glossify-link">PAN</a>): The construction of a religious institute re-launched for a third time in the southern province of Kandahar, officials said on Friday.</p>
<p>The construction of the Omar religious institute began 12 years ago during <a href="/en/taliban" class="glossify-link">Taliban</a> rule, but was put off after the collapse of their government in 2011. The project was restarted in April 2010, but had to be postponed due to technical problems.</p>
<p>Acting Urban Development Minister Dr. Sultan Husain Hesari launched work on the building at a ceremony attended by Kandahar Governor Toryalai Wesa, the city mayor and members of the provincial council.</p>
<p>The three-storey building would be constructed over 1.5 acres of land at a cost of $11 million (nearly 500 million afghanis) provided by Kandahar traders and government, Hesari told Pajhwok Afghan News.</p>
<p>The three-portion building includes a <a href="/en/mosque" class="glossify-link">mosque</a> for 4,000 prayers, having 150 toilets and four minarets and a lift system. The second portion is a seminary and a hostel, while the thirst part is a market.</p>
<p>The institute would have the Internet and other modern facilities, the minister said.</p>
<p>Wesa thanked the Ministry of Urban Development for paying attention to the <a href="/en/reconstruction" class="glossify-link">reconstruction</a> of the institute.</p>
<p>The religious school is being constructed where the Kandahar Cinema was previously located. The cinema was destroyed during the Russian invasion of <a href="/en/afghanistan" class="glossify-link">Afghanistan</a>.</p>
<p>myn/mud</p>
