Zabulis to Ghani: Honour campaign pledges

QALAT (Pajhwok): A number of residents of southern Zabul province on Thursday said the president-elect should stay committed to his campaign pledges and resolve problems being faced by the masses.

The major demands Zabul dwellers made on Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai include improved security, end to administrative graft, reforms in government departments, giving attention to education and vocational courses and creating jobs for the youth.

Resident Mohammad Nabi told Pajhwok Afghan News the incoming government would be well-advised in according priority to addressing the unemployment issue.

As he had promised, Ashraf Ghani should do away with discrimination among provinces and enable them to have equal access to facilities, Nabi suggested.

Another resident, Asadullah, called upon the president-elect to eliminate corruption from government offices and bring to justice those involved in the menace during President Karzai’s rule.

 “If there is no security, new projects could not be launched,” he argued, stressing the need for improvement and reforms in the education sector.

A 12th grade student, Abul Qahar, said their basic problem was lack of access to health facilities, asking the new government to pay special attention to the sector.

Despite being in fewer numbers, the existing hospitals did not provide sufficient health services, the student claimed. He said their others demands included education and jobs.

Noorullah, a shop owner in Qalat City, suggested efforts for peace. After bringing peace, he said, jobs should be created for youth on different projects to keep them from going abroad and swelling rebel ranks.

The gap between the government and the people could be narrowed if corruption was eliminated from public-sector departments, he believed.

A resident of the Shah Joy district said the incoming government should pay greater attention to the agriculture and development sectors.

Mohammad Shafique said Afghanistan was an agricultural country and development of the agriculture sector would not only create jobs for many but also help Afghanistan move toward self-sufficiency.

Similarly, a resident of the Nawbahar district, Habibullah, said they had participated in the elections under tough conditions and the president-elect should pay heed to their problems and provide them with basic facilities.

ma/mud

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