Ghani promises 1st grade province facilities for Helmand

LASHKARAGH (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday said all facilities of a first grade province for southern Helmand province would be considered and the Kajaki hydropower dam was being expanded.

At the head of a high-level delegation, President Ghani arrived in Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand, this morning and met with security and defense officials.

Talking to a meeting at the Afghan National Army (ANA) corps in Lashkargah, the president praised reforms in military ranks and stressed on capacity building of security forces.

The president also met with tribal elders and ordinary people of the province.

Helmand people shared their problems regarding interference in elections, joblessness, lack of dams, hajj quota, corruption and strongmen’s influence in appointment of security officials.

President Ghani said interference in elections was unacceptable and anyone made such attempts were violating the law.

About interference of strongmen in the appointment of security officials, Ghani said the 215^thMaiwand Military Corps were being empowered and no one would be allowed to interfere in the appointment of security and civil officials.

The president said reforms were also underway in police and their impact would be felt nationwide in near future.

Ghani promised to increase hajj quota for Helmand people, considering their population.

The president also met with Helmand youth. The youth thanked the president for giving jobs to young people in government offices and shared their suggestions about dealing with strongmen, improving security in border districts, reducing electricity price, providing educational scholarships for youth and building industrial park in Helmand.

After listening to the youth, Ghani said: “I believe in the youth’s will, I will use all resources to empower youth and make offices more youthful.”

He said all facilities of a first grade province would be provided to Helmand and the budget for building a standard administrative complex in the province had also been finalized.

Meanwhile, President Ghani while meeting Helmand provincial council members said expansion of Kajaki Dam would begin soon.

He said a Turkish company was ready to invest 175$ million in the project, according to a statement from the Presidential Palace.

Ghani first offered prayers for the souls of Afghan security forces, Abdul Jabbar Qahraman and Saleh Mohammad Achakzai.

Later, the provincial council members shared their problems regarding shortage of ANA and police personnel, lack of market for agriculture of Kajaki and Farhad dams and activating Boost Enterprise.

They also suggested opening of a corn oil factory, preventing illegal traffic of precious stones, building bridges on Helmand River and some other improvements.

After hearing problems and suggestions, the president said that expansion of Kajaki Dam would begin soon and a Turkish company was ready to invest 175$ million in the area.

He said the dam after expansion would have the capacity of storing one billion cubic meters water.

Helmand is the country’s most unstable province as its six districts are currently under Taliban’s control.

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