GARDIZ (PAN):  Provincial officials said hundreds of large and small scale rehabilitation projects were implemented in Paktia province but residents expressed concern by saying that much more was needed to be done to develop the province.
Sources said there were no large scale projects, however, work on the Machlgho dam, Khost-Gardiz Road and other projects of public welfare were underway.
Abdul Wali Sahi, assistant governor of Paktia province in his chat with Pajhwok Afghan News said hundreds kilometers of roads, buildings for schools and hospitals had been constructed during the past decade including other small scale rehabilitation projects in different localities.
He said rehabilitation projects were implemented despite cut in financial assistance by multiple donors, halting work for a considerable period of time. However, provincial authorities completed all needed projects without any delay.
He went on to say following extended financial assistance by foreign NGOs and other organizations, the central government initiated several rehabilitation projects including the construction of government infrastructure, cooperation with farmers, backing the National Solidarity Program (NSP) and several other initiatives.
Agha Mohammad Saadi, mayor of Paktia city said 42 kilometers road, streets, footpaths had been constructed while modern sanitation system was introduced in the city. In addition, separate hall for gatherings (Jirgas) and parks also constructed in the city.
Engineer Abdullah Durani, head of Paktia public works department said during the past few years, 350 kilometers first, second and third grade roads including Khost-Gardiz, Gardiz-Patan and few other roads linking Gardiz with the surrounding areas were constructed.
Mihrabuddin Shafiq, head of education department said 340 schools and different other educational institutes including eight Madrassas, mechanical institutes, agriculture high school, and institute of multiple departments were offering education services to 180,000 students with 45000 of them are girls’ students.
Buildings of 170 schools were constructed and 70 more school were under construction while efforts for the construction of the remaining 90 schools out of the total 340 were being undertaken.
Nazdana Paktiawal, head of public health department said
: “Ten years back, the province has three health centers but now the number of health center reaches to 45 having complete infrastructure, equipments and started offering health services to the people in different branches. More than hundreds of lady doctors have been trained with necessary medical knowledge who now busy in villages and countryside to spread awareness about health issues especially for women ,” he added.
Engineer, Abdul Rahman Rahmani, head of Public work department informed about the completion of multiple rehabilitation projects.
He said a total of 200 big and small scale projects had been initiated in 14 administrative unites of Paktia, adding the projects included retaining walls, dug-wells, gust houses, electric flour mills, roads and other necessary work.
The residents expressed satisfaction over the rehabilitation work implemented in the province as compared to other provinces.
Rais Shaista Jan Ahadi, head of provincial council said the feature of the province had been changed from during the past few years following implementation of rehabilitation projects. The province is now more developed and prosperous and the volume of rehabilitation work done in Paktia was satisfactory.
He blamed the central authorities for the unequal distribution of rehabilitation projects, alleging that other provinces got greater share than Paktia.
Janat Khan Mangal, tribal elder expressed concern about the distribution of rehabilitation project quota by saying that more work was needed to be done as far as the equal distribution of projects were concerned.