Sherzai to build Kajaki dam if elected

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Presidential contender Mohammad Shafiq Gul Agha Sherzai has promised he will strive hard to ensure peace, expedite development projects in the country and specifically build the Kajaki power dam if he wins the April 5 ballot.

Around 3,000 participants with 300 of them female attended the gathering addressed by Sherzai in Lashkargah, the provincial capital of southern Helmand on Friday.  

The current peace process spearheaded by the government was a failed attempt, he said, pledging he would form a Jirga with a task to convince the warring parties to shun fighting in larger interests of the country and nation.

He would leave no stone unturned to explore job opportunities for the people even with his own expenses. Around $300 million were allocated by the US for the construction of the vital Kajaki dam but work on the important project could not be initiated.

The official said the Kajaki dam, with its two turbines operational, was producing 33 megawatts of electricity. In consultation with Kandahar officials, 12 megawatts was being supplied to Kandahar City and six megawatts to Lashkargah, four megawatts to Sangin, two megawatts to Kajaki, and nine megawatts to Musa Qala and some parts of the Kajaki district.

He said a generator producing 400 kilowatts of electricity had been installed in Lashkargah for supplying electricity 24 hours to government departments.

If elected as president, Sherzai promised he would focus to accelerate work on several projects and build industrial zones in the province.

He promised to protect women rights and appoint committed and efficient officials on key government posts to control corruption.

Attaullah, a tribal elder from Naway district, announced to support Sherzai who was a man of principles and had the capabilities to steer the country out of crisis.

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