<p>KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Four key government departments in southeastern Khost province are led by <a href="/en/women" class="glossify-link">women</a> and local people are satisfied with their services.</p>
<p>Gender Department at the governor’s house, environmental protection department, emergency incident management and women affairs department are the entities headed by women.</p>
<p>Local officials believe women in many cases could better lead government organs than men.</p>
<p>Mahboba Saadat is one of the four women who took charge of the emergency incident management office two months ago.</p>
<p>She told Pajhwok Afghan News it was the first time the office was being led by a woman. She insisted women could better lead government organs than men.</p>
<p>“Women want to work with transparency and honesty. It’s wrong to think that women cannot lead. Women can effectively play leadership roles,” she continued.</p>
<p>Sharifullah, finance manager at the emergency incident management office, admitted the pace of work had improved since Saadat’s takeover.</p>
<p>“I was looking after both finance and administrative sections of this office earlier. I could hardly deal with both of them. After her appointment, I have able to focus on my responsibilities. Other sections of the office are also being run properly.”</p>
<p>Women Affairs Director Shafiqa Noorzai assured women leaders would lead their offices. “I am sure they can be authoritative leaders staying in touch with <a href="/en/society" class="glossify-link">society</a> and running their offices efficiently.”</p>
<p>Nadia Bawari, director of the Gender Department at the governor’s house, claimed addressing many cases in a short period of time.</p>
<p>She demanded women be given leadership roles in other government departments as well.</p>
<p>“Women faced many problems in the past; they could not go to government departments, particularly the governor’s house. But these problems have been solved now.”</p>
<p>Hila Nadira, head of the Khost <a href="/en/environment" class="glossify-link">Environment</a> Protection Office, promised she would leave no stone unturned in discharging her duty in the best possible way.</p>
<p>“We know every plan needs action and action requires struggle. I am trying to do good work,” she said.</p>
<p>Local officials recalled President Ashraf Ghani, during a visit to Khost plan one and a half years ago, had promised appointing women as departmental leaders.</p>
<p>Governor Mohammad Halim Fedayee acknowledged women’s role in management and leadership helped reform the society.</p>
<p>“No society can develop if it is led exclusively by men or women. It is a fact from the perspective of the religion and humanitarianism.”</p>
<p>Nasibullah, a resident of Khost City, opined that individuals with a strong will power could better serve the people.</p>
<p>He said previously women could not visit government offices due to cultural restrictions. But now women have been appointed as office heads, females find it easier to visit the departments.</p>
<p>Bismillah Arman, a civil society activist, said the appointment of women as leaders of government organs was a good step. But this move did not help promote women’s rights.</p>
<p>He said there was need for more work to generally improve women’s livelihood. “I think these are very typical appointments. Women should be appointed to such government positions,” he remarked.</p>
<p>Women have a nine percent share in Khost government offices, mostly in <a href="/en/education" class="glossify-link">education</a> sectors.</p>
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