Contractors asked for bribes, says Barmak

KABUL): Expressing concerns over security of employees, the minister of rural rehabilitation and development on Wednesday said acknowledged provincial authorities were taking bribes from contractors.

At a contract-signing ceremony for 16 development projects in Kabul, Wais Ahmad Barmak said nine employees of the ministry had been killed during the current year.  

Three employees were killed in Herat, two in Faryab and one in Nangarhar, Barmak said, admitting that local authorities sought bribes from contracting companies in provinces.

“Time and again, contracting companies have been asked for bribes.” Barmak lamented, saying that even construction activities had been stopped by local officials.   

Without naming anyone, he asked the government to address the problem and pave the ground for ministry employees to achieve their development objectives.

Barmak announced 16 projects including gravelling of roads, building bridges and digging water channels in 11 provinces at a cost of $11 million provided by World Bank and the UK.

A contract for these projects was signed between MRRD and private companies’ representatives. The projects will be implemented in Kandahar, Nimroz, Daikundi, Helmand, Takhar, Parwan, Ghor, Badghis, Khost, Faryab and Badakhshan.    

Barmak said the projects would be completed in two years, benefiting 50,000 people in remote areas. More than 4,000 acres of agricultural land will be brought under irrigation.

ra/mud

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