GARDEZ - President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday inaugurated five major development projects after arriving in southeastern Paktia province at the head of a high level delegation.
The presidential delegation was comprised of six ministers, the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) head and some other officials.
The projects inaugurated included a 220kv electricity substation, Gardez-Zurmat road, the police headquarters building, an industrial park and a township for government officers.
Ghani said access to electricity provided basis to development and inaugurating the electricity project would bring about positive changes to Paktia.
He said the price of one kilowatt electricity would be reduced from the current 30 afghanis to six afghanis with implementation of the 220kv project in the province.
The ministers of commerce, urban development and industries also signed the map for the industrial park building in Gardez.
According to the ministers’ information, the industrial park would be built in 492 acres of land with capacity for 237 big and small factories.
“It is my hope to see industrial development, pine nuts processing and other developments in Paktia, this progress is possible with access to electricity, you waited more than anyone and it is the time your demands are met,” he said.
Ghani said the gains so far achieved in the country had resulted from sacrifices of the Afghan forces and the martyred Afghan soldiers should be remembered in every development program.
The president also stressed on improve livelihood of teachers. The ministers and IDLG head also signed the map for the township of martyrs, teachers and government officers in Gardez city.
Local officials said the township was planned on 640 acres of land that would have 2,411 plots and 27 blocks.
President Ghani while inaugurating the Paktia police headquarters building, said, “The services of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) would start in a few weeks, the pine nuts of great Paktia would get fame in the whole of the world. These programs had to be suspended for four months and totally changed into covering all Afghanistan.”
Ghani also promised reconstruction of BalaHisar (a historic castle), school buildings and some other projects in coming months.
“Paktia is home of civilization and BalaHisar is the sign of this civilization, we would start work on it in six months,” he said.
The president is expected to stay in Paktia province on Monday and meet with tribal elders, Islamic scholars, women, youth and local officials. (Pajhwok)