KHOST CITY - Women are not given a priority when it comes to employment in government departments of southeastern Khost province, civil society activists said.

Official figures show currently 240 women are employed in government departments in Khost like health and education and only six women serve in the military. While the number of men working in government institutes reaches 7,976.

Khost Women’s Affairs Director Dr. Malalai Wali told Pajhwok Afghan News the fewest number of women in government employment was due to discrimination against the gender.

“Men do not like women to hold high positions in departments where they work. Men do not pave the way for women to be promoted in a department,” she said.

She urged ministries to increase job opportunities for women in their provincial departments. “Many women are eligible to work, but need to be given jobs. The government should announce vacancies for females and women should be given a priority in government employment.”

A female civil society activist, Zainab, said the number of educated women was on the increase in Khost but their presence in government departments was on the decline.

She said this situation of the women was due to government’s negligence which had grown pessimism among educated women and had reduced their interest in education.

“Some women have such nice ideas which men don’t have. If women are allowed presence in every department and programme, they will not be heartbroken.”

The lack of security and cultural restrictions turn out to be the big hurdles preventing women from jobs and education in much of Afghanistan.

But Administrative Reforms Commission head for Khost Haroon Mujahid denied discrimination against women in getting government jobs.

Khost Governor Hakam Khan Habibi reiterated his resolve to address problems women faced their appointment to government positions.

“Men and women government employees have equal rights. Women have the right to submit documents for every vacancy through open competition. I assure you no discrimination will be committed against women, Inshah Allah,” the governor said.

He blamed the lack of women employees in government departments on cultural issues and called for people’s cooperation with the government in this regard. (Pajhwok)