SHIBERGHAN (PAN): Jawzjan residents complained of deteriorating security, lack of drinking and irrigation water, low quality of education and low electricity voltage.
The northern Jawzjan province is located on extreme border with Turkmenistan hence the province is the first region of benefiting from the supply of electricity.
The province has immense gas reserves, which is being utilized by the locals but people of the province want to the gas pressure should be increased.
Yalda Afshar, a teacher from Shiberghan city said: “We have had substantial amount of gas and electricity some 10 years ago. Now the residents are faced with shortage of gas despite enough reserves of oil and gas.”   
She told Pajhwok Afghan News during Soviet era, the country’s 43% economic expenditure accommodated through the export of raw oil and gas.     
She said shortage of electricity and gas could be removed with its supply could be expanded to other provinces as well if investment for exploration was started.
Kinjah, a farmer from Mardyan district complained about lack of irrigation water, adding Jawzjan had the capacity to fulfill wheat demand of the entire country once the required facilities and enough water was provided to farmers.
He said the government always expressed commitment to resolve problems of the people but practical steps to help resolve issues could not be taken.
Kinjah went on to say that concerned officials promised to divert the flow of Amo River for irrigation and drinking purposes but the project was yet to be launched.
Ghazal, a student and resident of Shiberghan city said the quality of education was sinking with accelerated steps amid inefficient and lack of professional teachers.
She informed education department had failed to introduce a proper mechanism for appointment of teachers in schools.
She blamed owner of private schools for collapse of quality of education in educational institutions particularly in schools.
Alhaj Khudaidad, a resident of Kosh Tapah district said unemployment and deteriorating security situation were among big problems of the residents.
“The government pays little attention to develop and rehabilitate the province in the last decade. Problems of the people have been increased amid big surge in unemployment, insecurity and dilapidated condition of roads,” he added.
He went on to say government had no writ elsewhere in the province and the strength of militants was getting momentum by each passing day.
“The Qosh Tapah district is considered to be the most insecure place of Jawzjan. It is situated 90-kilometres to the west of Shiberghan city and share border with Sayyad district of Sar-i-Pul province,” he remarked.
Administrative corruption is another factor contributing to the miseries of the people, he added.
Ahmad Fareed, a resident of Shiberghan city warned gap between government and residents would widen further amid growing corruption and bribes in government departments.
Authorities did not adopt strict measures to eliminate corruption, bribes and appointments based on relationship in government departments, he added.
The wrongdoers should be given exemplary punishment publically, he said, adding that systematic corruption should be discouraged to win the favour and support of people.
Nabiah Mostafa Zada, secretary of provincial council said ongoing instability, lack of development work and increasing corruption were hampering progress of Jawzjan.
Residents are disappointed because the province is being ignored in terms of rehabilitation and development projects, she added. 
The provincial council secretary said people’s demands from different regions were heard and conveyed to the concerned departments.
She said the province was an agrarian with vast gas and oil reserve, adding the government was needed to introduce drastic measures to bolster the economy of the province through investment in agriculture and demining sector.
The resident of Faizabad district complained rehabilitation and development did not take place in the province.
Mohammad Kamal, a resident of Dawlatabad told Pajhwok Afghan News militants were flushed out of Kokaldash district as a result of people uprising but the government could not dare to help the people in those critical days.
Residents of Faizabad were deprived of electricity, transportation, and advanced agriculture facilities, he added.
Residents of Khami Ab district said construction of roads between districts and provincial capital, hospitals, and other infrastructure were the direly needed to minimize the woes of the people.
Gulab Shah, a nomad said problems of his community increased dramatically and his community was considered as a backward one and hence left ignored to resolve their problems.
He went on to say nomad did not have access to drinking water in their residential areas, thus they use water of rain.
He said school did not exist in his area, which would leave his next generation illiterate.
He demanded the government should take stringent measures to remove the grievances of nomad community by building schools, hospitals and provide other facilities.