Ghani’s vision for future draws global acclaim

LONDON (Pajhwok): Welcoming President Ashraf Ghani’s reform vision, the United Kingdom on Thursday provided more detail on its programmes to support Afghanistan over the next three years.

At the London Conference here, Ghani outlined his plans to tackle corruption, ensuring security and economic stability, put girls and women at the heart of Afghanistan’s future and introduce wide-ranging reforms.

British International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: “President Ghani has set out a clear vision for the future of Afghanistan and a commitment to the tough steps needed to make that a reality.”

She said the conference had put down a marker for a better, brighter Afghanistan, with the international community responding to the promises made with an unequivocal show of support for the war-torn country…” 

Over the next three years, the secretary said, the UK would boost employment, with support and training for workers in the critical agriculture sector to help create more than 13,400 jobs, at least 3,200 of them for women.

It will help strengthen infrastructure to ensure that 90 cent of the population has access to roads and 50 per cent of households can access grid electricity nationally by 2017, benefitting consumers and boosting business development.

Britain will support economic growth, including a national materials laboratory and mineral promotion services to bolster Afghanistan’s extractives sector, as well as technical expertise to increase tax and revenue collection.

Greening said they would prioritise support for the Afghanistan National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, as well as training for female provincial councilors.

The support will include improved access to schools and more pupils attending school, including girls, greater access to health services, with at least 58 per cent of births attended by skilled attendants and 86 per cent of health facilities staffed by at least one female health worker by 2018.

It will also provide support for emergency health and nutrition programmes for more than 440,000 people a year, with a focus on girls and women.

The UK and Afghanistan today co-hosted the London Conference on Afghanistan (LCA) where 59 countries reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Afghanistan to become a secure and stable nation after drawdown is completed at the end of the year. 

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