Important Herat Road To Be Asphalted

Herat's provincial governor, Daoud Saba

According to a Wakht News Agency (WNA) report on Saturday, an important 2 kilometer road in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat will be asphalted.  According to the report, the road is “between the accountant office and the area of Takht-e-Safar crossing the central part of Herat city”. Herat’s governor, Daoud Saba, said that funding for project will come from the United States and the work is expected to be completed in 4 months.

The unpaved road is the cause of many traffic accidents as a result of the heavy dust. It has been making life for the nearby residents very difficult. This project is expected to help greatly improve the safety of the drivers and residents in this area.

August 1, 2011 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Reconstruction and Development

Cashmere processing plant and cement factory recently inaugurated

Cashmere processing machine

A cashmere processing plant was inaugurated in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat on Saturday, a report from USAID (United States Agency for International Development) said today. According to the report, the “Herati Cashmere and Skin Processing Plant will be able to process more than 400 kilograms of raw cashmere each day through its line of five de-hairers.” The owner of the processing plant purchased the equipment with the assistance of USAID and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. Clean cashmere is much more valuable on the open market, and so plants like this will surely help to give this industry a boost. The report said that “currently, most of Afghanistan’s cashmere leaves the country in a raw state, where it sells for $35 per kilogram”. It added that “with the new machines, the processed cashmere can now sell in foreign markets for $120 per kilogram”.

In other economic news, in Afghanistan’s northern province of Baghlan, a cement factory was recently opened, a Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) report said yesterday. According to the report, the new factory will be able to produce 1200 tonnes of cement a day and it will create job opportunities for a thousand people. The report added that Baghlan’s governor, and officials from the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) participated in the inaugural ceremony.

July 31, 2011 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Job Creation, Reconstruction and Development

Officials: Kabul Soon To Have Metro Bus System

Last week, Tolo News reported that according to Kabul Municipality officials, Kabul will soon have a new Metro bus system. This new Metro bus system is being funded with the financial assistance of the World Bank. This system is expected to help with the many traffic issues that Afghans in Kabul currently face, such as traffic jams and high taxi fares. This new system is scheduled to begin operating by next year, pending feasibility studies. According to the Municipality officials, the feasibility stage of this Metro bus project is being implemented with help from Turkey. The World Bank will cover all the expenses that will be necessary to conduct these studies. Deputy Mayor of City Services, Khosman Olumi, said, “I believe that if the feasibility study of the project is finished the practical work will be started immediately after receiving the funds.”

July 26, 2011 · admin · One Comment
Posted in: Reconstruction and Development

Construction work completed on one school building and work started on another

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education announced today that a new building for the Shaheed Mohammad Ismael Middle School was recently inaugurated in the Alingar district of Afghanistan’s north eastern province of Laghman. According to a ministry official, the school building took 9 months to build at a cost of $32,000. It has 4 classrooms, 2 administrative rooms, and 2 restrooms.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Ghazni, a foundation stone laying ceremony was recently held for the construction of a new building for an all girls high school. The cost for the project will be $160,000, and once completed, the new building will have 12 classrooms, 4 administrative rooms, 10 restrooms, as well as a water well. The school will also be provided with 240 tables and chairs.

July 25, 2011 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development

Hundreds to get electricity in Bamiyan province

Governor Habiba Sarobi

A project to provide electricity to 750 homes and 500 business in Afghanistan’s central province of Bamiyan was recently announced, according to a report today from Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN). The project includes the installation of two generators that will produce 1200 kilowatts of electricity. Habiba Sarobi, the governor of the province told PAN that the funding for the million-dollar project will come from the Norwegian government and a private company known as the Kabul Group. According to the report, the Agha Khan Development Network will implement the project. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

July 14, 2011 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development

Reports: New development projects to begin and others have been completed in Afghanistan

Across Afghanistan there are scores of new development projects that will either soon be launched or have been completed. Many of these projects will not only bring much needed infrastructure and money to the Afghan government, but also bring much needed services to the people of Afghanistan.

On July 2, Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) reported that Abdul Jabbar Naeemi, the governor of Khost province, announced that small roads along with several large bridges will be built to aid the people of this eastern province to become more easily connected with other parts of the country. Besides the bridges, there are also plans to build customs facilities, schools, health clinics, public parks as well as a dam. The report also stated that a  new building for the Khost Medical University will be built. According to the report, this new facility will be able to hold 130 beds. There are also eight agricultural projects on the agenda. Funding for the projects will come from the budgets of the various ministries, the United Nations, as well as the government of the United States.

PAN also reported recently that in In Jowzjan province, a new water project has been completed where approximately 44,000 families spread over 178 villages will stand to benefit from. Officials from the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development told PAN that this project will provide desperately needed potable water to eight districts in the province, in which clean drinking water has been scarce.

Finally, according to Afghanistan’s Bakhtar News Agency, several new facilities will be housed in a recently completed building for the Spin-Boldak District Hospital, in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar. In the new building there will be a mortuary and a morgue to house the district’s deceased. There also has been a water reservoir constructed for the same hospital in order to provide it with a source of potable water. The newly constructed hospital building and reservoir was inaugurated by the Spin-Boldak District Chief, Abdul Ghani, and was paid for by and constructed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

July 5, 2011 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Education, Health News, Job Creation, Reconstruction and Development

Bamiyan to get a new hospital, and a new school building will be built in Kabul

Fada Hossein Maleki

Afghanistan’s Bakthar News Agency reported earlier this week that a new 100 bed hospital will be built in Afghanistan’s central province of Bamiyan. Funding for the project, including the equipment for the hospital will come from the Iranian government. Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Fada Hossein Maleki, met with Afghanistan’s second vice president, Mohammad Karim Khalili on June 14th and declared his country’s readiness to start on the project. Once completed, the hospital will serve the needs of thousands of people in the province.

Also earlier this week, Ghulam Farooq Wardak, Afghanistan’s Minister of Education, laid the foundation stone of a new building that will be built for the Kabul Institute of Computer Science. The project is estimated to cost $1.2 million, according to report from Pajhwok Afghan News. Funding for the project will come from the United States. Once completed, the 3-story building will have 45 rooms, including administrative rooms and a conference hall.

The United States and Iran are two of the largest donors towards Afghanistan’s reconstruction.

June 19, 2011 · admin · One Comment
Posted in: Education, Health News, Reconstruction and Development

4 new school building inaugurated in Sar-e Pol province

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education announced that 4 new school buildings have recently been constructed and inaugurated in the Sangcharak district of Afghanistan’s northern province of Sar-e Pol. The buildings were built for the the following middle schools: Shams Boys Middle School, Arfaan Girls Middle School, Topkhana Middle School and Khoram Faza Girls Middle School. The buildings for the Shams Boys Middle School and Arfaan Girls Middle School were built at a cost of $210,000 and they each have 10 classrooms, 2 administrative rooms and 6 restrooms. It took one year to build the schools. The buildings for the Topkhana Middle School and Khoram Faza Girls Middle School were built at a cost of $64,000 and they each have 4 classrooms, 2 administrative rooms, and 4 restrooms. It took 6 months to build these two schools.

June 12, 2011 · admin · One Comment
Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development

Construction starts on new school building in Herat, and a new school building is inaugurated in Kunar

Herat's governor, Daoud Saba

Afghanistan’ Ministry of Education announced this week that construction has begun on a new school building for the Ustad Fakiri Suljuki High School in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat. A foundation stone laying ceremony was held recently in which Herat’s provincial governor, Daoud Saba, community leaders, teachers and students were in attendance. The building which is being financed by an Amir from the United Arab Emirates at a cost of $600,000 will have 30 classrooms, 8 administrative rooms, drinking water facility, and 24 bathroom stalls. The school will also be provided with 400 tables and chairs.

Elsewhere, in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kunar, a new two-story building for the Marawara district middle school was inaugurated recently. The building has a total of 12 rooms. A solar electricity system, a boundary wall, as well as a drinking water facility was also put in for the school. The construction project was funded by the Provincial Reconstruction Team a cost of $240,000. Moreover, the school will be provided with 300 tables and chairs.

June 10, 2011 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development

Ghazni to get two more schools and a sports gymnasium

Afghanistan’s Bakhtar News Agency reported today that construction work on 2 new school buildings started yesterday in Ghazni province. One building is for the Imam Qaem Bakawel High School, and the other is for the Al Biruni Girl’s High School. Once completed, both school buildings will have 12 classrooms and 4 administrative rooms. Funding the projects are being provided by the United States government.

Also in Ghazni province, construction work has started on a new sports gymnasium. According to Afghan media reports, the gymnasium is being built over an acre of land. The construction is scheduled to be completed in 10 to 11 months, and once completed, the gymnasium will be able to accommodate 700 spectators. The project is expected to cost $264,000; funding for the project is being provided by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Counternarcotics.

June 5, 2011 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghan Sports News, Education, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights

Afghan MMA Fighter Wins United Glory Welterweight Title!

Siyar Bahadurzada, Afghan Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter and Shooto Light Heavyweight World Champion, added another championship title to his list of achievements. On Saturday, at the United Glory – 2010-2011 World Series Finals in Moscow, Russia, he defeated John Depret in the second round (time: 4:16) via TKO (technical knockout ) to win the Welterweight Championship.

In order to make it to the finals, Bahadurzada had defeated two previous fighters. On October 16, 2010, he defeated Derrick Noble (TKO, first round) in the Quarterfinals, and then went up against and defeated John Alessio (TKO, first round) in the Semifinals. For winning the tournament, he was given $150,000. Overall, this is the 6th straight win for Bahadurzada. His record now stands at 20 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw.

After the fight, Bahadurzada, who is active on Facebook, posted the following message to his fans: “Thank you all very much for the prayers! We did it again! I am now also the Glory Welterweight World Champion!!!!”

May 28, 2011 · admin · One Comment
Posted in: Afghan Sports News

Afghan students graduate from a major university and others receive scholarships

U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry congratulates one of the 32 graduates at the first-ever graduation ceremony at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on May 26, 2011. Photo: US Embassy

32 Afghan students celebrated their graduation yesterday from the American University of Afghanistan. The students, including eight women, received bachelor’s degrees in business, information technology, computer science, political science, and public administration. These Afghan students have made history as they are the American University of Afghanistan’s first graduating class. United States Ambassador Karl Eikenberry participated in the ceremony and gave the keynote speech. First Lady Michelle Obama sent a congratulatory letter and former First Lady Laura Bush produced a video message that was played on two projectors.

In other education news, today Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) reported that “as many as 729 Afghans have been offered scholarships in the fields of medicine, engineering, information technology, business administration, agriculture, economics, natural sciences and teaching”. 600 of the scholarships have been granted by the Pakistani government and 129 “under the university-to-university cooperation program between educational institutions in Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab”, said the report. Considering the need for doctors in Afghanistan, Pakistan had allocated 120 scholarships for degrees in medical sciences, Pakistan’s Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq told PAN.

May 27, 2011 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Education, Human Rights, Women's Rights