Khost’s Zinikhel residents carp neglected for decades

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of Zinikhel area in the Nadir Shah Kot district of southeastern Khost province say their area remains deprived of development schemes during the past two decades.

One of their main demands is construction of a bridge on a natural stream that divides Zinihel residents.

Shahid Khel, an inhabitant of the area, told Pajhwok Afghan News Zinikhel’s population reached 90,000 people and they remained divided due to the absence of a bridge.

He said the area residents, including women, children and students on both sides of the stream faced problems during flooding.

He added: “Our school and clinic are situated on the south side of the Shambawat township, patients and students cannot cross the stream when it is raining or flood. We want the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to construct a bridge on the stream.”

Meanwhile, students in the area also say they are facing a number of problems due to the absence of the bridge.

Abdul Wali, a student, told Pajhwok: “When it rains and flooding here, no one can cross the steam and patients suffer. We want the government to build a bridge for us.”

Mohammad Shah Sabri, another resident of the area, said many developments schemes had been executed in various areas of the province, but no attention was paid to their area.

He said: “No attention has ever been paid to Zinikhel area in the last two decades. Currently, we want the government to extend imported electricity to our area and construct a bridge for us.”

On the other hand, Khost Information and Culture director Shabir Ahmad Usmani assured solution of these problems.

Earlier, ethnic problems hindered the implementation of development projects, he explained.

He told Pajhwok that efforts were underway to implement development projects in various areas of the province including Zinikhel.

kk/ma