Work on religious institute in Kandahar resumes

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): The construction of a religious institute re-launched for a third time in the southern province of Kandahar, officials said on Friday.

The construction of the Omar religious institute began 12 years ago during Taliban rule, but was put off after the collapse of their government in 2011. The project was restarted in April 2010, but had to be postponed due to technical problems.

Acting Urban Development Minister Dr. Sultan Husain Hesari launched work on the building at a ceremony attended by Kandahar Governor Toryalai Wesa, the city mayor and members of the provincial council.

The three-storey building would be constructed over 1.5 acres of land at a cost of $11 million (nearly 500 million afghanis) provided by Kandahar traders and government, Hesari told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The three-portion building includes a mosque for 4,000 prayers, having 150 toilets and four minarets and a lift system. The second portion is a seminary and a hostel, while the thirst part is a market.

The institute would have the Internet and other modern facilities, the minister said.

Wesa thanked the Ministry of Urban Development for paying attention to the reconstruction of the institute.

The religious school is being constructed where the Kandahar Cinema was previously located. The cinema was destroyed during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.

myn/mud

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