Cabinet wants work on key canal project accelerated

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) cabinet has tasked the deputy prime minister for administrative affairs to encourage the acceleration of work on the Qush Tepa canal project and provision of more facilities for traders.

The 280 kilometres long, 100 metres wide and five metres deep canal, fed by Amu River, will irrigate 500,000 hectares of land in northern Balkh, Jawzjan and Faryab provinces.

The first phase of the ambitious canal project has been completed and work on the remaining phases is still in progress.

According to a statement from the Presidential Palace, the deputy prime minister has been tasked with motivating the Administrative Affairs Office and the National Development Company to step up execution of the project and facilitate improvement in the work.

The cabinet also asked the deputy prime minister for administrative affairs to provide facilities for businessmen inside and outside the country and consider all possible ways to facilitate trade.

A delegation led by the Political Commission, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Administrative Affairs Office and National Environmental Protection Agency, was assigned to review the sapling plantation plan and submit it to the cabinet for approval.

aw/mud