AOP rejects spending $30m on vegetables

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Administrative Office of the President (AOP) on Thursday rejected claims that the office spent $30 million on purchasing vegetables.

A statement from the AOP received by Pajhwok Afghan News said the office had shared all information about procurement of vegetables to the office with the State Ministry in Parliamentary Affairs.

It said the AOP was responsible for serving food to all domestic and foreign guests besides providing services to the office of the president, High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), the National Security Council, guards of the president and VIPs, vice presidents and office of the Former President Hamid Karzai.

The source also mentioned a number of other organs with thousands of personnel to whom the AOP also provided food service.

The statement said a total of 33 million afghanis which or around $428,000 were spent on vegetables in 1399 solar year and rejected claims of the Wolesi Jirga that the AOP had spent $30 million.

The Wolesi Jirga should avoid spreading false information and negative propagandas that could damage the credibility of the lower house, the statement added.

Lawmakers earlier this week said that the country was struggling with major economic problems while the AOP has spent $30 million purchasing vegetables and meat.

mds/ma