KABUL - Afghan Senators on Sunday criticized the government for not implementing developing projects in equal measure to the provinces around the country.

"After nearly 12 years of international community presence in Afghanistan, have the development projects been launched in each province equally? This is really questionable," Senator Najiba Hussaini said, adding that all the residents of Afghanistan should benefit from the developing projects.

The senate had summoned the Ministries of Public Works, Agriculture, and Rural Rehabilitation, to respond to questions about development projects around the country.

Senator Abdul Hanan Haqwayoun blamed the ministers for not having projects in provinces where people are severely suffering from a lack of basic living facilities.

"I criticize these three ministers; they have not considered the third-level provinces. Most of the villages are facing major problems due to lack of development projects," Haqwayoun said.

The senators also said that lack of sufficient monitoring from the projects has led to a waste of money and believed that corruption was also involved.

"There was no monitoring of the money spent on the projects, that is why a lot of money was embezzled," Senator Bashir Ahmad Samim said.

The Ministers defended their activities with the head of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Mohammad Asif Rahim blaming lack of enough budget to implement all his projects.

"We haven't received a positive response on our next year's development budget to meet all the needs of the residents of the country. The Ministry of Finance has allocated the budget which was dedicated for us, we have implemented some of the basic projects all over the country," Rahimi said.

Rural Rehabilitation and Development Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak said insecurity had made some projects unable to be implemented.

"The first phase of the National Solidarity program was launched in 34 provinces of the country and had good achievements, however we couldn't implement the project in 23 insecure villages," Barmak said, adding that development projects will be implemented in more places as the security improves.

Public Works Minister Najibullah Ozhan said the lack of budget will also mean less projects next year.

"We have prioritized 63 basic projects for next year which require $369m, but we know the Finance Ministry will allocate a budget of $8m. We will not have enough budget to implement all the projects," Ozhan said. (Tolo News)