GARDEZ (Pajhwok): The governor of southeastern Paktia province on Tuesday said some officials in local departments had been appointed on the basis of nepotism despite unfit for the jobs.
Nasratullah Arsala, who assumed office two months back, was talking to Pajhwok Afghan News in an exclusive interview.
Arsala said since taking office he had evaluated the performance of local departments and officials.
His evaluation found absent coordination among some departments and employees without required skills and capacity.
The governor said some individuals had been appointed on nepotism basis, paving the way for administrative corruption.
Arsala was planning to sack some of these employees and reshuffle others to bring about positive changes in administrative affairs.
According to him, some 500 job vacancies in local departments have been announced and would be filled through open competition.
“The ongoing development projects are insufficient, I will try to start more development and reconstruction projects,” he said, adding that construction work on the Machalgho dam had been stopped for several reasons and he would try to resume work on the key project.
Five years ago, the Water and Energy Ministry awarded contract for construction of the dam to a joint Russo-Afghan company and only 20 percent of its work has been completed.
Arsala said apart from some localities in Samkanai district, other districts had better security. “Since I took office, coordination among local departments has improved, which has a positive impact on the security situation.”
In the past, he recalled, gunmen would harass passengers on highways and that problem had been resolved.
The governor said he had started meetings with elders, civil society activists and residents to consult them on matters relating to the province’s affairs.
Arsala replaces Juma Khan Hamdard, who had been Paktia governor for almost nine years.
hg/ma