MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN): The residents of northern Balk province demand of the authorities to expedite work on the uplift projects and bolster the security situation of the province during the upcoming elections.
The current security is satisfactory in the province, they said, fearing however, the security could worsen in the backdrop of the polls.
Hamidullah, a resident of Sholgar District told Pajhwok Afghan News there is beefed up security in the town but the law and order tend to deteriorate during the landmark elections.
Hailing from Chamtal village, Atiqullah said that the government is needed to take stringent security parameters ahead of the fast- approaching presidential ballots in an attempt to hold the elections in a fear free environment.
He said that the security forces should launch a decisive action to disarm the rebels that roam in the area, which is a prerequisite for holding fair polls.
District Chief of Charbolak Zabihullah Zahid said that there is dire need to complete the development projects in the town, adding that former administrative heads of the town miserably failed to achieve any tangible progress to develop the area.
He went on to say that there is complete absence of health services while the farmers are facing acute water shortage to irrigate their fields.
Though there are seven health clinics serving the people of the area, he said, adding that those health facilities are not enough to serve the residents of 120 villages.
Haji Assadullah, a resident of Shortipa District said the area is experiencing acute problems in terms of health and education amid absence of basic infrastructure.
The main source of concern for the people associated with the agriculture profession is that that hundreds of acres of agriculture land are eroded by the Amu River every year, he added.
He went on to say that the government should take immediate steps to develop the area otherwise problems’ of the people would further multiply.
Haji Eisa Khan, a resident of Kaldar District said that people of his area have badly needed the immediate provision of potable water, roads, and health facilities.
He said that they are facing tremendous problems because of dilapidated condition of roads.
Speaking to journalists in Mazar-i-Sharif, Governor Atta Mohammad Noor admitted that there are multi-dimensional problems being faced by the masses of his area, promising that his government would leave no stone unturned to bring the situation under control.
He said that there is no major security threat, adding that problems would be tackled with the extended help and cooperation of the people and the Afghan security forces.
He expressed optimism that the upcoming polls would be different in terms of fairness and transparency as compared to the 2009 ballots.