KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Wednesday said it would pay arrears amounting to 3.5 billion afghanis to 90 contractors over the next four months.
Representatives of the 90 companies had earlier complained the ministry was not paying them their dues after making supplies to police units in 2012 and 2013.
The Wolesi Jirga summoned Interior Minister Noorul Haq Ulomi and Deputy Finance Minister Shafiqullah Qarizada to brief lawmakers in this regard.
“The contractors are on the right side,” said Ulomi, adding that the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A) had agreed to paying the contractors’ dues soon.
However, Qarizada held former MoI officials responsible for not paying the outstanding amounts, which he said should have been paid in-time. He said CSTC-A had agreed to pay the dues after evaluating the contracts.
Haji Zahir Qadir, first deputy speaker of the lower house, said the contractors’ money should be paid otherwise no company would provide logistics to the Afghan forces.
He tasked the financial, national economy, internal security and complaints committees to closely follow the issue with the government to ensure that the contractors were made payments.
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