A year on, work on Paktia women market yet to begin

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Businesswomen in southeastern Paktia province complain even preliminary works to construct a separate market for them could not be initiated one year after President Ghani’s visit.

They ask the authorities concerned to start work on the promised market for businesswomen in order to address their economic problems.

President Ashraf Ghani last year visited Paktia province and promised the construction of a separate market for women.

Shazia, a resident of Gardez, the provincial capital, said most of the women in Paktia were breadwinners for their families but they lacked facilities to coup with the heavy responsibility.

“The construction of this market is vital for women because most of the women have no male leader at home, their economic situation is also not good and the construction of the market is vital for them,” she said.

Jamela, another woman, demanded construction of the market for working women and said short term projects should also be implemented for women.

“It is very important that a particular place should be constructed for women where they could work and put their handicrafts for sale,” she said.

Civil society activist Syed Jamaluddin Asifkhel said weak economic situation was among reasons behind domestic violence and that women should be provided working opportunity like men.

Women’s Affairs Director said 3.5 acres of land in Gardez had been allotted to the construction of separate market for women but work could not be initiated on the project.

Nasreen Oriakhel told Pajhwok Afghan News that women from districts and provincial capital were engaged in making handicrafts and they were interested in having a specific place where they could display their products.

“Land has been allotted for construction of the market, necessary design and suggestions have been submitted to the ministry and local government but no funds are allocated for the project,” she said.

It is worth mentioning that women in Paktia are domestically engaged in handicraft and other vocational projects but there is no place where they could sell their products.

nh/ma

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