SHARAN (Pajhwok): A number of residents of southeastern Paktika say 14 of 18 districts of the province are led by acting officials who could not provide the required services.
Only Argon, Yousufkhel, Khairkot and Sar Rawza districts are governed by district chiefs. The rest are led by acting officials, whose performance has drawn public criticism.
Khurshid Arman Katawazi, head of Paktika Civil Society Coordination Office, told Pajhwok Afghan News people were not satisfied with the performance of acting government servants.
“According to the law, acting officials have limitations, particularly in the financial area. Therefore, they could not deliver the requisite services to the people,” he said.
People complain about the acting officials because they have to travel to Sharan, the provincial capital, even for processing routine work, he explained.
“We want the authorities concerned to appoint acting officials who are efficient as district chiefs and those who are not capable should be replaced,” he suggested.
Katawazi claimed the situation in Naki, Gomal, Gayan and Khushamand districts was far from satisfactory. Administrative heads for these districts live in Sharan.
Abdul Hamid, a resident of Khushamand, told Pajhwok that they did not have a district chief and had to travel to Sharan in connection with even a small piece of work.
‘If we need the signature of the district chief for an ID card, we have to travel several hours to Sharan and find the official there or apply for a new ID card,” he maintained.
Abdul Hamid confirmed most districts of the province were governed by acting officials. “Most of them stay away from their offices; they live where there is safety and govern districts at the zonal level.”
Aziz Aziz, a provincial council member, endorsed public complaints about acting officials. “If the government wants to end this culture, it should be mandatory for district chiefs to have bachelor’s degrees.”
A number of other residents came up with similar complaints and asked for an early end to acting appointments.
Meanwhile, Governor Mujib Rahman Samkani verified 14 districts of the province were led by acting officials. “Some of these district chiefs have been in office for more than five years.”
Samkani announced he had launched an assessment of the problem and would appoint some acting officials as district chiefs and replace several others.
“Those found efficient would be appointed as district chiefs and those who are not good would be removed,” he promised. Eight government departments of the province are also led by acting officials.
mds/mud
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