Balkh

MAZAR-I-SHARF, JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Despite an absolute ban imposed by the President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on hiring and firing in government institutions, officials in northern Balkh and eastern Nangarhaar provinces have made new appointments, Pajhwok learnt on Sunday.

Munir Farhad, spokesman for the governor of Balkh, told Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) new women affairs’ director has been appointed in the province.

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Scores of young people gathered in Mazar Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, urging the president-elect to give them an effective role in his administration.

Meeting at the Balkh provincial council office, civil society activists and youth called for the incoming head of state to focus on addressing their problems and giving them due representation.

Tamana Faqiri, a female student at Balkh University, told Pajhwok News blamed the outgoing government of President Hamid Karzai for failing to resolve youth’s problems.

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The governor of northern Balkh province on Monday said he was not against the unity government decision, but he had been hoping people’s real determination towards democracy would be given a priority.

Atta Mohammad Noor, also the Jamiat-i-Islami party’s executive council head, wrote on his Facebook page that the national unity government had saved Afghanistan from plunging into crisis after hectic efforts and campaigns.