GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of Giro district in southern Ghazni province say rough roads are causing serious travel difficulties and putting patients’ lives at risk during medical transfers.
Several tribal elders in Giro said two or three roads connect the district with Ghazni city, but all are in poor shape. They said journeys to the provincial capital can sometimes take five to six hours.
Some remote areas of Giro district are located about 100 kilometres from Ghazni city.
Haji Mohammad Nabi, a tribal elder from the district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the deteriorated roads were a major problem, particularly for patients.
He said travelling from Giro to Ghazni city could take five to six hours and cause serious difficulties when patients needed to be transported. In some cases, he said, patients had died before reaching health facilities.
According to Nabi, several deep waterways along the route also lack suitable bridges, further worsening the situation during rains and floods.
Another tribal elder, Gul Shah, said some sections of the road become impassable when water levels rise, leaving travellers facing severe difficulties.
He said two people had been swept away by floodwaters along the road this year, while three members of a family died in the same area last year after being caught in floodwaters.
“There are rivers and streams along this road, but there are no bridges in many places. When the water rises, the road becomes blocked and travellers face serious difficulties,” Gul Shah said.
Drivers using the Giro-Ghazni route also said the badly damaged road causes vehicle damage, prolongs travel times and increases risks to passengers.
Driver Mohammad Ghiyas said: “We travel on these roads every day. The road is in very poor condition. We have witnessed cases where patients, including women and children, have died while being transported.”
Meanwhile, district officials said they had repeatedly raised the issue with relevant authorities.
Mawlawi Mohammad Ayoub Jabir, administrative chief of Giro district, acknowledged the difficult road conditions and said the route was important not only for Giro residents but also for connecting several districts and provinces.
Jabir said the road connects Andar and Giro districts of Ghazni with Khairkot, Bakheil, Jani Khel and Waza Khwa districts of Paktika province.
“We have repeatedly shared our concerns with government officials, held meetings and submitted proposals. Promises have also been made regarding the construction of the road, but so far there has been no significant practical change,” he said.
Ghazni Public Works Director Mawlawi Abdul Wali Ahmad Tayyib said roads leading to all 18 districts of the province, including the Giro route, were being considered for rehabilitation.
He said the condition of roads in the province’s districts was being assessed and efforts were underway to take necessary measures to address the problems.
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