Even more Afghans will have access to mobile services

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology recently announced that they will implement a $10 million telecommunications project to bring mobile serves to 100 districts in Afghanistan. $100,000 will be spent on each district.  Afghan government sources say that about 250 districts in the country have telecommunications coverage, which is more than 80% of the population.  This project will help bring modern technology to even more people as areas without service will now have the access they need. Afghan ministry officials say the plan the is to have the project be implemented in 6 months.

August 27, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Reconstruction and Development

Center Promotes Female Journalism in Afghanistan

A few months ago, the first Women’s Journalism Center was opened in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat.  The center’s objective are to train female journalists and to help them find jobs in the growing media industry in Afghanistan.  The center provides support and encouragement, and a place to learn and develop one’s journalism skills.

According to an article recently published by the Afghan Women’s Writing Project online magazine, the center is in the “process of setting up a website and intends to hold practical courses for women journalists as well as establish a radio and television station for women journalists in Herat.” 

The idea for the center evolved from a journalism program established in Herat University eight years ago. While the establishment of the class took the first step towards helping women to enter the field of journalism,  it didn’t lead to jobs for the women, because the support system was not there. The center is hoping to change that.

The director of the center is Fawzia Fakhri, a newscaster for Radio Sahar, an all-women radio station.

August 26, 2010 · admin · One Comment
Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights

School building for girl’s high school inaugurated

Jowzjan Province

According to a press release issued today by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education, a school building constructed for a girl’s high school in the district of Aqcha in Afghanistan’s northern province of Jowzjan was inaugurated today by Afghan officials.

The building was constructed on government land, and most of the funding was provided by a Swedish organization, with 10% coming from the people of the area. The total cost of the project, which took 8 months, was US $150,000.  The one story building has 8 classrooms, 4 administrative rooms, and 10 restrooms.  It will meet the educational needs of many female students in the area.

August 23, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights

New School Building In Kunar Province

Kunar Province

Yesterday, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education issued a press release that Afghan officials have opened a new school building for the Hashim Zamani Middle School in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kunar.  According to the release, funding for the project was provided by the United Nations at a cost of US $47,000, and it took 6 months for the construction to be completed.  The new school building has 8 classrooms, 4 administrative rooms, 6 restrooms and other essentials needed for the day to day running of the school.  The new school will meet the educational needs of about 400 students.

August 22, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development

Afghan Players Nominated For Major Cricket Award

Mohammad Shahzad and Samiullah Shinwari

On October 6th of this year, the International Cricket Council (ICC), in association with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), will hold the prestigious 2010 LG ICC Awards ceremony in Bangalore, India. Awards will be given out in various different categories.  In the Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year category, two members of Afghanistan’s national cricket team have been nominated – Batsman Mohammad Shahzad and Middle-Order Batsman and Spin Bowler Samiullah Shinwari.  This is the first time that an Afghan cricket player has been nominated for an ICC award.

The other nominees are: Ashish Bagai (Canada), Richie Berrington (Scotland), Muddassar Bukhari (Scotland), Tom Cooper (Netherlands), Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands), Trent Johnston (Ireland), Kevin O’Brien (Ireland),and Paul Stirling (Ireland).

The nominations were made by a five-man ICC selection panel.  It was chaired by former West Indies captain and current chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee, Clive Lloyd.  The winner of the award will be selected by a group of 25 cricket personalities (former players, members of the media, and representatives of the elite panels of ICC umpires and referees) from around the world.

August 20, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghan Sports News

New high school building inaugurated in Logar Province

Atiqullah Ludin, Governor of Logar Province

Afghan officials, led by provincial governor, Atiqullah Ludin, inaugurated a new high school building in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Logar earlier this week. The school is named after President Hamid Karzai. It has 16 classrooms, 4 administrative rooms, 2 libraries, 2 storage rooms, a teachers room, 10 restrooms and a surrounding wall. The high school which is spread over half an acre of land is attended by about 1400 students. Funding for the project was provided by the Czech government at a cost of US $278,000.  Construction took 10 months.

August 19, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development

Women’s Farm Service Center Opened in Kabul

Afghan Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock, Mohammad Asif Rahimi

Today, a Farm Service Center tailored specifically for Afghan women farmers was officially opened for business in Kabul. There are already 6 other Farm Service Centers in Afghanistan – all funded by the United States government. This particular one was setup to specifically meet the needs of Afghan women farmers.

According to a press release issued by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the “Farm Service Centers offer high quality products such as seed, fertilizer, animal feed, tools, machinery, and greenhouse supplies. In addition, the store functions as an outlet for other female head of household enterprises, such as jams, pickles, honey, and handicrafts”.  The press release added that this new Farm Service Center will benefit “more than 10,000 Afghan women”. Also, according to the press release,  “the seven Farm Service Centers in Afghanistan have created more than 235 jobs, trained more than 15,000 people, and achieved $24 million in sales from March 2008 to June 2010”.

“Farm Service Centers build value chains that are of enormous importance to participating famers and their families. From ensuring know-how and quality inputs, to strengthening co-operatives, to building links with businesses and markets, an FSC is a valuable resource that makes farmers and farm communities more prosperous,” Afghanistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation & Livestock, Mohammad Asif Rahimi said.

August 16, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Job Creation, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights

Huge oil deposit discovered; Gas pipeline to bring in billions in revenue

The Afghan government has officially announced that it has discovered a field with an estimated 1.8 billion barrels of oil in northern Afghanistan, Afghan and Western media is reporting today. The discovery is specifically between the provinces of Balkh and Jowzjan. The survey was conducted by Afghan and international geologists.

Also yesterday, Afghanistan’s Tolo news reported that Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Industries have said that an agreement to extend a gas pipeline from Central Asia to South Asia through Afghanistan will soon be signed. According to the report, once the 1680km pipeline has been built and the project formally completed, it will bring in $3 billion in tax revenue annually, as well as create job opportunities for thousands of Afghans. It will be a great boost for the Afghan economy.

Afghanistan is rich in natural resources, and if tapped, managed, and secured properly, it can turn the Afghan economy around and improve the lives of the Afghan people tremendously.

August 15, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Job Creation

Afghans dominate the Scots in a 4-day cricket match

Afghan cricket team celebrating

Afghanistan defeated Scotland by 229 runs today in a 4-day ICC Intercontinental Cup cricket match which concluded today at Cambusdoon New Ground, Ayr. On day one, Afghan batsman completely dominated the Scots – the first day ended with 349 runs for 5 wickets. On the second day, the domination continued with the Afghan batsman further increasing the lead – Samiullah Shenwari achieved 102 runs on that day. Hamid Hassan bowled brilliantly and Mohammad Shahzad achieved his second first-class century (105 runs) on day 3. On the last day, Hamid Hassan bagged five wickets to help Afghanistan seal the deal and officially beat Scotland. Scotland had been been given a target of 546 runs – they had a mountain to climb on the last day and it was just too much for them.

August 14, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghan Sports News

Plan to bring international flights to Herat underway

Herat, Afghanistan

Herat, Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation announced yesterday that they will increase the length of Herat Airport’s runway from 2,500 meters to 3,000 meters so that larger aircraft can be accommodated.  The larger runway will allow for international passenger and cargo flights to operate out of Herat.  The time planned for this project is 3 months.

As a result of this upgrade, passengers traveling from Herat will no longer need to make connections to international flights in Kabul, Kandahar or Mazar-e Sharif. Once completed, the project will further increase economic growth in western Afghanistan.

August 12, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development

Major increase in the harvesting of pistachio crops

Afghan media recently reported that compared to last year, there has been a major increase in the harvesting of pistachio crops in northern Afghanistan.  Afghanistan’s Tolo news reported that there was an increase of 98 percent in the northern province of Samangan. The province of Samangan is second only to the northwestern province of Badghis in terms of pistachio production.  The large yield was attributed to good weather, and better cooperation between the locals and security forces.

According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, there are more than 900 million square meters of land covered in pistachio trees through out 11 difference provinces.  Under the right conditions, Afghanistan produces hundreds of tons of pistachios every year. If managed properly, it can become a great source of income for the people and the government. 

In order to really benefit from the high yields, the next step is to establish pistachio processing factories inside Afghanistan. Government officials have already said that they are making efforts to attract investors so this can happen.

August 10, 2010 · admin · No Comments
Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development

Still The Champ: Afghan MMA Fighter Defends Title – Wins By Knock Out

Siyar Bahadurzada

Afghan Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, Siyar Bahadurzada, successfully defended his Shooto light heavyweight world championship title tonight in Brazil by defeating Carlos Alexandre Pereira in the first round by KO (knock out). With this win, Bahadurzada improves his record to 17 wins. He only has 4 losses and 1 draw. Before the fight, Bahadurzada posted a note on his Facebook site that he would try to make his fans proud again, and he did that tonight. Because of his outstanding recent performances, he is getting the attention of major MMA organizations. He recently signed up to fight for Strikeforce, a well known MMA organization that competes against the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), headed by Dana White. He was also recently interviewed by “Fighters Only” magazine.  His MMA nickname is Siyar The Great.

August 6, 2010 · admin · 10 Comments
Posted in: Afghan Sports News