HERAT CITY (PAN): A vocational training centre, costing more than $2 million provided by the Iranian government, was inaugurated in western Herat province on Tuesday, officials said.

The inaugural ceremony for the centre was attended by local officials and an Iranian representative, said Herat Governor Dr. Daud Saba, who described the facility as a significant step towards the development of the province.

Iran's deputy minister of works, Abdul Rasulpur Abbas, hoped the vocational training centre would herald fast-track development of Herat. He added Iran was funding the construction of similar centres in Farah, Kandahar and Nimroz.

Director of Works and Social Affairs Basira Muhammadi told Pajhwok Afghan News the training centres had four well-equipped halls. As many as 120 men and women will be enrolled for training in tailoring, car repairing, computer technology and plumbing.

According to Muhammadi, the Iranian official has agreed to train 25 Afghans in these fields for a period of three months. On completing the training, they will return to Herat to serve as teachers at the vocational centre.

Am/mud