KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday launched the National Employment Program that will provide jobs to thousands of people. He said government has set aside a specific amount of money to establish this new program, that will include the building of roads in rural areas. People from these areas will in turn be employed to work on the projects, he said.

In addition, thousands of people from rural areas will be given jobs in local municipalities.

Addressing a press conference, Ghani said that in the past week the Afghan nation has shown its discontent over violence – particularly by protesting against the beheading of the Zabul Seven.

He went on to say that violence and insecurity are not the country's only problems but that economic issues also needed to be addressed.

He said the current economic downturn in Afghanistan is directly linked to the withdrawal of foreign troops and went on to say that the number of NGOs that worked in Afghanistan in the past 14 years had been reduced by at least 50%.

Ghani said however, that the high rate of unemployment in rural and urban areas will be addressed through the new National Employment Program and the plight of people living in poverty is being tackled.

He stated that China has promised to help finance 10,000 apartments in Kabul and that studies have been launched to find ways to generate more electricity.

Already, plans are under way to build 17 new dams in the country to help generate power, he added.

In conclusion, Ghani said Afghanistan can no longer be dependent on foreign aid and that it is time for the country to stand on its own two feet. (Tolonews)