In 2013 the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) will declare Ghazni as a Centre of Islamic Civilization. Nonetheless, at a time when we are only months away from 2013, only negligible development and reconstruction work has taken place in Ghazni. Accordingto sources, no work onthe planned $25 million worth project for establishment of center of Islamic civilization has been done so far.

Meanwhile, the plan according to which the province was to receive high voltage power that could lighten up the Ghazni city and its surrounding has not been initiated yet. Of the 30 historical sites that were to be restored, only 10 have been partially completely. At the same time, no work is in place to improve the infrastructure of the Ghazni and make it look like real capital of Islamic civilization.

The parliament of Afghanistan discussed the issue on Sunday, June 3 to know real cause of delay in development work in Ghazni. However, Minister of Agriculture and Information, Ghazni governor and acting head of Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) who had also participated in the session failed to give satisfactory answers.

The parliament ordered the concerned committee to pursue the case and bring forward the authorities who have shown recklessness in this regard. However, it seems like the Afghan parliament has woken up so late; as only a few months are remaining to 2013 and all those work that could not be done in the past couple of years can not be accomplished in the little time remaining.

There are certain untreated hurdles facing development and construction work in Ghazni, the biggest of which is the insecurity. The Taliban have great influence in the province and would leave no opportunity to hinder developmental works. Additionally, Ghazni's harsh winter that will start before December and will last up to April can be considered another constraint for all sorts of reconstruction works.

Selection of Ghazni as center of Islamic civilization can be deemed a pride for Afghanistan. Nonetheless, lack of attention means that our government gives no importance to such values which is highly regretful.