Paktians want practical work on district road not promises

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A number of residents of Samkani and Janikhel districts of southeastern Paktia province on Tuesday protested against government’s failure to construct a road between the two districts.

The protestors said that government officials had promised to construct the road connecting the two districts a few years ago, but no practical action had been so far taken on the regard. They said they would continue their demonstration until practical work was started on the project.

Raouf Khan Samkani, head of Youths Council of Samkani district, said that many officials had promised several years ago of constructing the road, but no work could be started on the project so far.

“The budget has been approved a few months ago, the procurement took over three months, what type of government is this? The work on the project should have been started in March …,” he said.

A civil society activist, Din Mohammad Himmat, said that people of the two regions faced great inconvenience due to bad road condition and they could no longer bear the situation.

“This key road remains unpaved since many years despite many promises and is in bad condition, people are at great trouble. We no longer believe in anyone’s promises and their papers, we want practical work, if the work does not start, we will extend our protest to the province and other places. We want urgent attention of the president on the regard,” he said.

Haji Nooruddin, a tribal elder from Janikhel district of Paktia told Pajhwok Afghan News that the government had long ignored the district when it came to development projects.

“All have betrayed us, the president had promised to serve us, but our education, roads, youths and all parts are in ruins, why? If we see it necessary, we will totally shut this road. We want the road construction and our rights,” he said.

However, Paktia Road Maintenance Department said that the road was in three parts and two of them had been surveyed and designed and they were waiting the procurement process to complete.

JahanyarAkbarzai, Paktia Road Maintenance Department director said, “The procurement process for the two parts of the road would be completed if there is budget; one part is not surveyed yet. It would be surveyed and designed in the next few days.”

The 28 kilometers road between Samkani and Janikhel districts is one of important projects of Paktia province and officials have made many promises to implement it.

Paktia governor, Mohammad HalimFedai had earlier told Pajhwok that the project was important and practical work on it would start in March, but no work on the project has been started so far.

Mds/ma

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