Paktians seek govt’s attention to reconstruction, services

GARDIZ (Pajhwok): Residents of three districts in southeastern Paktia province on Thursday called on the current government to work for reconstruction and provide them with needed services, saying they should not be ignored like the previous administration.

Hundreds of residents of WaziZadran, Shwak and Gerda Serai districts of Paktia province gathered in Gerda Serai district today to share their concerns with officials. The gathering was also attended by a number of government officials and tribal elders.

The participants called on the new government to ensure that their rights were not violated as in the past and they should be paid care in every part of life.

Haji Naik Mohammad, a tribal elder from Zadran tribe, said the previous governments had not paid attention to Paktia's Zadran districts and had not implemented any development works there.

He added that the previous government made promises in the last 20 years but did nothing in action.

The people of Paktia's WazaZadran, Shwak and Gerda Serai districts are deprived of even their basic rights and the new government should take this issue seriously, he said.

AssadullahWafadar, head of Zadran Youth Association of Paktia province, said there was only one high school in the three districts and there was no any school for girls there.

He also said health services in the districts were also in short supply and people faced problems in their access to health services.

He called on the officials not only to provide more services in the fields of education and health, but also to create jobs for the youth and employ them in the government.

Acting Refugees Minister Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani echoed the sentiments of the people, saying that he had long realized that the residents of the mentioned districts of Paktia were deprived of many rights and were ignored in one way or another.

He added that the government is trying to address all the problems of the people and will focus on reconstruction and services as its primary goal.

Haqqani asked people to help the government in ensuring security in the country.

“Now is the time for all citizens to get united and work for security and reconstruction of the country,” he said.

Residents of the three districts of Paktia inhibited by Zadran people had in the past also complained about no development work in their areas.

Mds/ma