Gardez residents seek electricity to boost trade

GARDEZ (PAN): Shopkeepers in this capital city of southeastern Paktia province say they spent a major part of their income on buying fuel for power generators due to lack of electricity.

Noor Wali, who owns two multi-storey market plazas in the new township, said he had invested 14 million afghanis in the project, but people stayed away from renting shops due to lack of electricity.

He said the government had repeatedly promised extending electricity to the township, but no practical steps had so far been taken in this regard.

He alleged the provincial power department officials were inefficient and had not been able to resolve people’s problems.

Shopkeeper Sher Alam said he spent most of his income on buying fuel for power generator. He said if power supply was extended to the city, it would not only encourage business activity, but also resolve problems facing residents, particularly students.

Water and Energy director Mohammad Asif Niazi said they had tried their best to resolve the problem of electricity in Gardez, but failed.

“We have many times asked the ministry concerned in this regard, but the governor’s house and other government departments did not extend us full cooperation.”

Niazi said they planned extending the new township power supply lines from Kabul at a cost of six million afghanis and some work had been done in this connection.

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