Nawa residents remind Karzai of promises

LASHKARGAH (PAN): Residents of the Nawa district in southern Helmand province on Thursday urged President Hamid Karzai to translate his promises into action regarding execution of development projects in the town.

Karzai, who visited the district three years back, had promised to asphalt a road linking Nawa with Lashkargah, the provincial capital, and Garmser districts. He also vowed to supply electricity to dwellers.

One of the participants, Mohammad Daud, told Pajhwok Afghan News the road connecting Nawa with Garmser had been ruined and needed reconstruction. He said only 23 kilometers of asphalted roads existed in Nawa.

He said local farmers could not transport their agricultural products to the market due to unpaved and bumpy roads, which also led to an increase in fares.

Tribal leader Haji Wali claimed Nawa was the only district in Helmand, where residents had shunned cultivating poppies and helped the government maintain security.

He said they had presented their demands to the government in a peaceful manner, but resort to agitation if the authorities continued to ignore their calls.

Other speakers said development works had come to a halt three years ago in Nawa, where youth had no jobs and residents lacked access to electricity.

mrh/ma/mud

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