Takhar youth claim govt jobs being offered based on kinship

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): Some educated youth in northern Takhar province have expressed their concern over what they claim increasing appointments in government offices based on “special orders.”

The youths ask the caretaker government to give government jobs through open competitions in order talented ones get the chance to be employed according to their knowledge.

Shuja Farhang, who is about to graduate from university in near future, said they went through many difficulties and bore financial expenses on education in the hope to be employed in a government department.

He expressed his concern about employment based on ‘special orders’ of high officials in the country especially in Takhar province and said: “Giving jobs on orders has disappointed the youth as their talent is being neglected, such action widens the gap between the government and the nation and causes brain drain and illegal immigration”.

He asked the government to stop hiring people on special orders and instead hire them through open competition to employ talented people according to their knowledge.

Ahmad Reza, another youth, said: “Postings on orders upset the talented youth, anyone who has reference or supporter (in the government) gets appointed to a government position regardless of his ability and talent”.

He added those who struggled for years and studied were not hired if they had no one in the government, claiming recruitments on orders and connections had become a routine in government offices.

He asked the government to end this process.

Yahya, a student of Baghlan University, said majority of government workers were hired on orders of high level officials, while such posts must be offered through open competition.

He said: “Educated and talented youth are turning to illegal migration or drug addiction due to unemployment, in some cases they attempt to commit suicide, if such youth are provided with employment opportunities through open  competition and hired, it will encourage other youth to pursue their education”.

Engineer Ahmad Khan Abbas, the head of administrative reforms and civil services of Takhar province, during a conversation with Pajhwok Afghan News did give figures for employment of workers based on orders in the province, but said a committee has been formed in coordination with the government and the positions of civil administrations are supposed to be announced through open competition so that educated youths can also participate in the exam.

aw/ma