FAIZABAD (PAN): Badakhshan people demand government to accelerate pace of reconstruction process, build factories, develop the old agriculture sector and prevent drug smuggling in the province.
The residents of the volatile province underlined the need to ensure protection of women rights.
Zabihullah Attique, member of provincial council said proper attention could not be given to develop the ailing infrastructure locally as compared to other provinces.
Though government and donors had implemented some welfare projects during the last decade, still much more was needed to be done, he remarked.
Referring to construction of roads including Raghha, Darwazha, Zibak, Ashkasham and Warduj districts, he urged the government to initiate construction work on the roads, which left closed for six months in a year.
Roads were in dilapidated condition with even link roads and street roads were bumpy posing great risk of accidents to passengers’ vehicles, demanding the government to take emergency steps to gravel the roads.
Shortage of industries, rampant poverty, menace of unemployment, violence against women and insecurity were among the main problems people of the province had been confronting, he added.
He suggested expansion work on the Air Port, building of new universities, healthcare centres, schools, hospitals and developing the power and energy sector would go a long way to generate employment opportunities for the locals and would help minimize the scale of insecurity.
Ahmad Jawed Ziai, a resident of Faizabad said joblessness and poor economic condition of people could be tackled by building factories and promoting the agriculture system on modern lines, which would ensure peace in the long term.
“People’s basic needs are not taken into consideration seriously. Neither security is improved nor job opportunities can be created so that the poverty-stricken masses can stand on their own feet,” he added.
He said a large number of locals forced to work in foreign countries with special reference in Pakistan and Iran because of lack of employment opportunities and sense of insecurity at home.
Combating drug trafficking was yet another serious problem of Badakhshan, which shared boarder with Tajikistan.
Mirza Ghani, a student and resident of Khwahan district said drug smugglers had been openly operating in the boarder districts without any check from the government.
He said growing smuggling was contributing to insecurity in parts of the province, adding that drug trafficking was stabilizing anti-government forces.
If the government did not adopt measures to prevent smuggling activities, insecurity would spread to the nook and corner of Badakhshan including neighboring provinces, he warned.
Khwaja Tilah Muhammad, another resident of Badakhshan, considered low wages of teachers, sinking education standard, surging fee of private schools and universities were among major problems created chaos in the province.
He said Badakhshan is undeveloped province located in far-flung areas that was why authority did not pay proper attention to ameliorate the situation.
“Enhanced security, standard education, better economic opportunities and resolving teachers’ problems will help put the deteriorated situation back on track,” he added.
He demanded steps should be taken to prevent appointment in government departments based on nepotism and favouritism, adding a proper merit criterion should be adopted to select competent people
Turdi Baig, a farmer from Darayam district said most of the people eke out their livelihood from agriculture and the government should come forward to promote and develop the ailing agro sector in larger interests of the people and country as well.
The government, he demanded should extend its all out support and help to provide the farmer community with advanced seeds, fertilizers and other needed stuff, which would multiply their crops’ products.