KABUL (PAN): Two roads, measuring more than 100 kilometres, would be asphalted at a cost of $31.6 million in western Herat province, a Ministry of Public Works official said on Wednesday.

Public Works Minister Najibullah Awjhun signed two contracts to the effect with an Afghan-Chinese construction company’s representative, Eng. Daud, in Kabul on Wednesday.

Ahmad Shah Waheed, a technical advisor to the ministry, said the roads linked Herat City, the provincial capital, with Pakhtun Zarghoon and Ghorian districts

Under the accords, a 57.5 kilometer road between Ghorian and Herat City will be asphalted in 539 labour days at a cost of $19.7 million.

Another $11.9 million would be spent on asphalting a 44.4 kilometre road between Herat City and Pakhtun Zarghoon, he said, adding both roads would be blacktopped with funds from the government’s budget.

ma/mud