Kandahar governor chides some district chiefs

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): The acting governor of southern Kandahar province on Sunday lashed out at some district chiefs for spending much of their official time in the provincial capital instead of their offices.

Dr. Toryalai Weesa, addressing a coordination meeting with administrative and police chiefs, asked officials to stay in their respective areas and work for resolving people’s problems instead of spending their time in Kandahar City.

“The district chiefs have no right to arrive in Kandahar City without a valid reason. If they arrive and stay here, they should daily visit the governor’s house for signatures in the attendance book.”

The acting governor mentioned the district chiefs of Shorbak, Mianshin and Maroof towns, who spent much of their time in Kandahar City.

“This is not good when district chiefs leave all their affairs unfinished and watch movies in their homes and go on excursions all the day,” Weesa said.

He also chided some district chiefs for paying visits to Kabul and other areas without informing the governor’s house. “All your acts should be in line with the established rules.. such violations are no longer tolerable.”

The acting governor praised the district administrative and police chiefs of Arghandab, Dand, Daman, Zheri, Panjwai, Maiwand, Spin Boldak and others for their efforts to maintain security and resolve people’s problems.

On poppy eradication campaign, the governor said Zheri, Panjwai, Maiwand, Shah Walikot, Arghistan and Takhta Pul were the districts where the banned plant had been sown.

He asked the meeting participants to stay firm in the way in poppy cultivation and drug smuggling.

The National Solidarity Programme also came up for discussion at the meeting and it was observed the programme had not been properly implemented in most of the districts.

The acting governor said: “A number of district councils get released funds under the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), but they don’t use the money on welfare projects. The district chiefs need to seriously investigate this problem and prevent it.”

He said NSP funds should be used on development projects like roads, drinking water and other facilities in areas where the security situation had improved.

Weesa also asked the district chiefs to work for reopening schools which had been closed due to insecurity in cooperation with tribal elders, religious scholars, influential figures and public representatives because such schools existed in many towns.

The governor also said anti-polio campaigns were not being properly carried out in districts. He asked district officials to increase awareness and establish contacts with insurgents and convince them that the polio vaccination had nothing to do with politics.

He also recommended action against amulet sellers and other such superstitious activities aimed at deceiving people and playing with their lives.

Deputy Governor Abdul Ali Shams expressed similar views and asked district administrative and police chiefs to enhance cooperation and coordination among them for the sake of improved military and civil affairs.

A number of district chiefs talked about problems in their respective districts and urged the provincial administration to help them resolve those problems.

Rozi Khan, the Mianshin district chief, said he and the district police chief performed their duty in a container because they lacked buildings. The security situation in his town is not satisfactory due to fewer policemen.

He said security for the entire district could not be maintained by 100 policemen and the insecurity had crippled the education process. Some other district chiefs also raised problems and got assurances from about their resolution.

ma/mud

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