Jalalabad (PAN): Nangarhar Governor’s spokesperson Ahmad Zia Abdulzai has said that hundreds of big and small development projects have been completed in the province during the last eight years.
“Multiple development projects and the construction of around hundreds of kilometers paved roads linking at least 20 districts including the Laghman-Torkham Highway have been completed. The construction of the direly needed roads helped minimize the problems of the commuters.
He held out promises that the government is planning to construct the second Jalalabad- Torkham road during the current fiscal year. He said that the second road would have been built three years back but the construction company fled and left the project halfway, adding however, that the Public Works Ministry is pondering to award that contract to another company. He informed that around 60 percent roads have been paved only in Jalalabad city with the construction of water canals. He went on to say that a number of link roads have also been constructed, which resolved the problems of the people. He informed that construction of other projects is under consideration, which would be materialized during the current year. 
Referring to the schools having no proper buildings, he said that buildings of around 300 schools have been built while the construction work on a number of schools is under process. Buildings of more than 60 health clinics have been completed so far with a matter of satisfaction is that all the districts have its functional health clinics.
He said that the University has now proper buildings for Science, Agriculture, Economics, and Engineering faculties along with buildings for library, dormitory, and a number of other faculties.
On construction side, he said that much more has been done during the last eight years including the construction of ten buildings for the Provincial Directorates and construction work on a sprawling hospital is under progress in Nangarhar. Known with the name of Karzai, a big hall has been built in Nangarhar palace with construction of a big municipality guest house. The Nangarhar Palace has been renovated while two sports ground have also been built in the province.   
A large sport complex has been built after the name of Sherzai in Nangarhar including construction of a huge park for youth, which helped created more job opportunities and ensure provision of recreational facilities for hundreds of people, he added.
Three settling facilities has been build for returnees, and a township at par with international standard after the name of Ghazi Amanullah Khan is about to be completed in Nangarhar, he said, adding that proper building for administrations purposes have been built in Torkham border area with the completion of two industrial parks in the province. 
He went on to say that the current fiscal year would witness the construction of the second Jalalabad – Torkham Highway with the construction of Behsood Bridge.
Awrang Samim, head of Nangarhar information and culture directorate said that the province saw the construction of hundreds of mosques including the sprawling central mosque in the city during the last eight years. He informed that the tombs of Ghazi Amanullah Khan and Malangjan are renovated and the martyrs’ minaret is built in Behsood District.  
In addition, Sarajulamarat Historic Monument and a garden have also been repaired.
Nangarhar Canalization Director Eng. Zyarat Gul Rahil told Pajhwok Afghan News that multiple development projects have been completed including plantation of thousands of acres oranges, lemon, and sweet oranges farms with another thousand of acres of land that has been leveled for the plantation of olive trees.
“We have reactivated the Olive Factory and reopened the canal for 600 acres barren land. There are many big projects of different nature, which will be implemented by the current fiscal year,” Rahil added. 
Hazrat Bilal Nooristani, Nangarhar rural rehabilitation and development directorate head told Pajhwok Afghan News that they have dug hundreds of deep wells and built retaining walls and hydropower plants in a number of districts, which provide electricity to hundreds of families. He said that currently ten of their developmental projects are underway and his government has ensured provision of potable water to the residents even in mountainous areas.
Mujeeb Rahman Momand, Nangarhar provincial water and power directorate head told Pajhwok Afghan News that financed by the World Bank, his government has provided 12 megawatts electricity from Naghlo Dam to Nangarhar last year. He said that his government confronted with multiple problems to ensure provision of electricity to the residents of Jalalabad. He reassured that problems in the way of Daronta Dam would be resolved during the current year.
Agha Jan, Nangarhar provincial council head told Pajhwok Afghan News that much more has been achieved recently in terms of development of Nangarhar province.
He admitted that his government concentrated mainly on the development of the center rather than the entire districts despite the fact that remote areas need more attention in terms of launching of development projects. He informed that armed individuals have been a constant source of trouble in the way of development projects in the districts, adding however, that despite challenges most of the districts enjoy paved roads and health facilities as well.
He said that the provincial authorities are responsible for ensuring quality in the construction of development projects.
Muhtarama Amin, a female member of the Provincial Councils said though the area has witnessed some development but the people of the area direly needs advanced infrastructure and big projects. She complained that the development projects are not disbursed among the districts on proportionate basis as some particular districts get lion share in development projects.
Tribal elder Haji Mohammad Ali told Pajwhok Afghan News that there was massive corruption in most of the projects, adding that the funds allocated for particular projects could not be spent fairly.
In the wake of using low quality materials, the building of a newly constructed school in Khogiani District is bent on one side due to corrupt practices.
Shila Babenry, former women affairs provincial head told Pajwhok Afghan News that women played a highly significant role in the completion of development projects, which helped ensure provision of more job opportunities for women.
She however, vehemently criticized the quality of a number of projects, adding that the use of low quality material in the construction of Behsood District road developed cracks at several places.
The Provincial Reconstruction Team and a number of donor agencies helped in completion of development projects including health clinics and schools.
 
A number of development projects have been completed including the Public Works, Agriculture, and Livestock sectors.
The establishment of an industrial park by the government in Rodat District on the vicinity of Jalalabad– Torkham Highway offers enhanced facilities to the investors. 
The poultry and fishing farms have been improved, officials said, adding that there are over 600 poultry and tens of fishing farms in Nangarhar, which led to creation of more job opportunities. The products are being sent to Kabul and other provinces.
The Nangarhar airfield is so far under the control of NATO, and is only being used for military flights, however, the Transport Ministry said that it has asked the ISAF to hand over the airport to the ministry in an attempt that the airport can be used for civil flights as well.
All the relevant administrative facilities have been built elsewhere in the districts while construction of military facilities in a number of border districts is under way.