KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani has said the so many problems and challenges facing the country could not be solved all at once or in a short span of time.

The president was talking to upper house members, led by Senate second vice-chairman Mohammad Alam Ezedyar, at the Presidential Palace, a statement from the president’s spokesman office on Monday.

The meeting participants first offered special prayers for the departed souls of those killed in Sunday’s suicide attack on a volleyball tournament in southeastern Paktika province and prayed Allah Almighty to recover those injured in the terrorist attack.

The powerful blast ripped through a large crowd watching the final match of an inter-district volleyball tournament in the Paraw area of Yahyakhel district, killing 61 people and injuring another 66.

The Meshrano Jirga members one after another shared with the president problems in their respective provinces in areas of security, education, higher education, electricity, healthcare services, construction of water dams and roads.

They urged the president to give special attention to countrywide agriculture development, besides establishing religious schools and improving the situation of internally displaced people, Kuchi tribesmen and people with disabilities.

President Ghani said the prolonged and continued conflict in Afghanistan had given the Afghans grief, corruption and injustices in inheritance.

Therefore, he said the Afghans needed to have unity in their thoughts and actions and the national unity government would remain a best example of that.

“The people of Afghanistan have reposed trust in me and they took me to this position so I can bring improvement to the country’s situation, but the problems, challenges and misfortunes are so many which cannot be resolved all at once or in a short span of time.”

The president said they should first identify their priorities and targets and then acquire the needed resources, which he said unfortunately did not exist to resolve problems.

Addressing the Senators, the president said: “Without your and all Afghans’ cooperation, we cannot win over problems. You need to continuously share your advices and opinions with me for the sake of considerable changes.”

The president promised the lawmakers that he would discuss with them in next meetings measures that had been implemented. (Pajhwok)