Governor Habiba Sarobi

According to the PAN report, the new 75-bed facility will have eight doctors, twice the previous staff, and it will be able to handle as many as 200 patients, 20 deliveries, and three operations daily.

In other news, PAN reported earlier this week that after two years of construction, over 900 students of a teacher training center in the Esa Khan desert are now able to move from their makeshift classrooms in rental houses into an official building built for the school. The World Bank funded 9.2 million afghani construction project in central Bamiyan province was completed by a local company and includes six administrative rooms and eight classrooms.

At the inaugural ceremony, PAN reported that Governor Habiba Sorabi said a hostel and two additional buildings will be completed in the next year. The college was first established in 2007 and has an enrollment of nearly 1,000 students, 60 percent of which are female.

Khost Governor, Abdul Jabbar Naeemi

In other news, PAN reported last week that a new water supply has been put into service in the Ganda Chema area of Jalalabad city. Niamatullah Rahimi, the United Nations’ regional head told PAN that the system will supply 2,000 families with clean water in the Jalalabad first, second, and third zones. The $2 million Japanese funded system draws water through a 3,000 meter long pipe using a generator powered pump. It features two sources with each able to store 1,000 cubic meters of water. PAN also reported that according to Parvaiz Alishingai, head of the irrigation department, they previously were only able to bring water to 30 families and now they will be directly delivering clean water to 38 percent of the residents. Though the generator draws and delivers less water during times of hot weather, it will address the needs of Jalalabad residents who PAN reported as having problems accessing water when demand increases during summer.

The Maimi-Shaghnan road will cost $15 million dollars and take two years to complete. It also includes two large bridges that will be built by five local reconstruction companies. When finished, the commuting from the districts to the provincial capital will take two days whereas the current route takes twelve days and passes through nine different districts. An official told PAN that the road will also connect Maimi residents with a bazaar on the border of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.

The Balamarghab-Sang-i-Atash project is projected to cost the MRRD $2.36 million and will likely be completed within one year. This road will make a currently difficult commute much easier and all workers employed will be from the Balamarghab and Maqur districts.

In other education news, Afghanistan’s Bakhtar News Agency (BNA) reported yesterday that the Ghani Khail High School in the Tagab district of Kapisa province was reopened. The school had been shut down due to security issues. The BNA report stated that order had been established and the school was reopened, thanks to the cooperation of the local community elders. The report added that school supplies were also donated to the school. Approximately 500 students are enrolled in this school.

Siyar Bahadurzada

Last night, at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Afghan mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Siyar Bahadurzada knocked out his Brazilian opponent Paulo Thiago in just 42 seconds of the first round. Bahadurzada made history as he has now become the first ever Afghan to fight in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), the largest MMA organization in the world. Bahadurzada landed a powerful right hand to Thiago’s jaw. The punch snapped Thiago’s head around causing him to fall unconscious to the mat, face-first. Bahadurzada is known for being a powerful striker, and last night he proved it to thousands of MMA fans worldwide. In fact, over 50% of his wins have come from either a knock out or a technical knock out. The UFC also announced that Bahadurzada was given the “Knockout of the Night” honors, and was awarded an extra $50,000.

After the fight, Bahadurzada told America’s Fox Sports TV Network that he fights for Afghanistan. “When I have the flag on my shoulders, I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes with that. I just want to put Afghanistan in positive news headlines. That is my goal. That is what I want to do for my country.”

With this win, Bahadurzada improves his record to 21 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw. Bahadurzada is anxious to fight again. “There will be more knockouts like this. I promise you”, Bahadurzada said. Bahadurzada is also the 3 times and reigning Shooto light heavyweight champion of the world and the Golden Glory World Series 2010/2011 welterweight champion.

Elswhere in Parwan province’s Jabal Saraj district, a foundation stone for a new building for a boys’ high school was laid down. Officials as well as students and teachers were present in a special ceremony marking the occasion. The new building will be built in 15 months at a cost of $500,000. Once completed, it will have 22 classrooms, and 4 administrative rooms. With the construction of this new school building, the educational needs of the students in the area will be better met.

In other education news, Afghan media also reported that the foundation stone was laid down yesterday for a new building for the medical faculty at Nangarhar University. The project costs have not been announced yet, however, it is being partly funded by private Afghan businessmen.

Wahidullah Shahrani, Afghan Minister of Mines

The Iranian company Peshgaman Sanat-i-Majad will invest $150 million in establishing a cement factory that will produce one million tons of cement in the Zinda Jan district of Herat province, according to a report today from Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN).

Afghanistan’s Minister of Mines, Wahidullah Shahrani said that this project will boost the country’s annual revenue by $10 million. Under the agreement signed with the Iranian company, Afghanistan will get a royalty of two dollars per ton of cement production and 20 percent of the factory income in tax.

The agreement also includes coal extraction. The company will give Afghanistan $20 as tax per a ton of coal extraction. The coal will be extracted from the Pahlawanan mine. Also, the Iranian company has agreed to construct 11 kilometers of road, hire Afghans for the work, and establish a clinic, and construct houses, as well as a masjid for the workers in the area.

According to the PAN report, a recreational park will also be created and education facilities provided for workers’ children. The report also added that this will not only increase revenue for the government, but will also reduce cement prices.

Afghanistan's U-16 Cricket Team

Afghanistan’s U-16 (Under 16) cricket team went undefeated and won the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) U-16 Challenge Cup today in Thailand. The event had started on March 3rd in Chiang Mail, Thailand. Besides Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Maldives Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) participated in the event.

On day one, Afghanistan took on Maldives and defeated them by a massive 316 runs. Afghanistan reached 353 for 5 off 40 overs. Maldives only reached 37 off 22.1 overs. Afghanistan’s captain, Jawed Ahmadzai, even scored the first century of the event by scoring an amazing 161 runs. On day two, Afghanistan took on Bhutan and easily defeated them by 311 runs. Afghanistan went 354 for 5 off 40 overs, and Bhutan went 43 all out off 21 overs. Then for their third win, they faced off against the tough team from the UAE and still defeated them by 2 wickets. Following that win, they took on China and won that game by 349 runs.

In the final match, they took on Qatar and won by 92 runs to wrap it all up and become the champions. Afghanistan scored 200 runs all out off 37.1 overs, and Qatar scored only 108 runs all out off 31 overs. On top of that, in a closing ceremony held at the conclusion of the tournament, Afghanistan’s Parvis Khan was given the batsman of the tournament award, and his team-made Naween-ul Haq was given the bowler of the tournament award.

This win shows that the future of cricket is very bright in Afghanistan, and one day, they will join the ranks of such teams as Australia, India and South Africa.

In other good news, PAN also reported last week that 90 new schools will be built during the next solar year in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province. According to the Education Director, Ihsanullah Nashir, the construction of the school buildings will take place simultaneously.

Meanwhile, also according to a Pajhwok Afghan News report, the foundation stone for a new customs building has been laid in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kunar. This project has been funded by the Ministry of Finance, and is estimated to cost an approximate $908,724 or 45 million Afs.  This project should take a year to complete, according to Kunar’s provincial governor, Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi.  This facility is being built with the hope that it will spur transit trade activity on the road that connects the Nawa Pass area of Kunar with Pakistan’s Bajaur and Mohmand tribal areas.