$18m electricity projects being implemented in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): Construction work has been launched on a substation at a cost of 18 million US dollars in Tarakhel area of Kabul.

And work to extend a 220-kilowatts line from Chamtala to Tarakhel area of capital has also been kicked off.

Acting Minister of Energy and Water Mullah Abdul Latif Mansour told a ceremony in this regard that electricity shortage problem of 250,000 people and industrial parks would be resolved with the execution of the projects.

He said the projects would cost 18 million US dollars. He added the line extension project was part of the 1,000kv transmission line from Turkmenistan based extension of line from Dasht Khwaja Alwan to Arghandi.

He also rejected rumors that the United States had given packages of 40 million US dollars to Afghanistan.

He explained these aid packages were being given to international institutions and previously they would be given to Afghanistan directly. Currently, he added, such packages were transferred to bank and handed over to relevant entities after completing legal measures.

He claimed the US did not assist the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan because the US had been defeated by IEA.

Dr. Farooq Amaz, advisor of MoEW, also called beginning of work on these schemes good news for the country’s development.

He added that the Islamic Emirate was giving priority to electricity projects because electricity facilitated many other developments.

General Director of  Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) Dr. Abdul Bari Omar said electricity was the most important requirement for good governance, economy, development and development of the country.

He said the caretaker government could maintain its political freedom when it had economic freedom and was self-reliant.

kk/ma