Video: Afghan Doctors Complete Training Course
A group of Afghan doctors have a completed an internal medicine training course at Bagram Airfield. More than 200 medical professionals have graduated from the program over the last three years.
May 27, 2010
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Posted in: Health News
Modern farming equipment given to Afghan farmers
In an effort to encourage Afghan farmers to stop growing opium, and instead focus on alternative crops such as wheat, officials from the Afghan government, a British Battalion and a Relief agency held a ceremony, and provided modern farming equipment to Afghan farmers in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province. The farmers were given tractors, thresher machines and ploughing equipment. A total of 20 new tractors were handed out. The farmers in this area had also been given wheat seed, non-ammonium based fertilizer and growing kits containing onions, tomatoes and fruit seeds.
A British Captain involved in today’s ceremony, Captain Nick Carter, commented: “This program is helping to develop the farming community. This particular area of Nad-e-Ali used to be very wealthy and it still can be. By having modern equipment, the farmers are able to go back into the commercial market and sell their produce for a good price, while also helping them move away from the poppy.”
May 26, 2010
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development
Hairatan – Mazar-e-Sharif railway to be completed soon
Minister of Finance Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal (left) with Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda (right).
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance announced to the media today that a key railroad project, the construction of the Hairatan – Mazar-e-Sharif railway, will be completed in 4 months. In a press release issued today, the Ministry stated that “the new railway line will connect Mazar-e-Sharif to Hairatan, on the northern border with Uzbekistan, removing bottlenecks, boosting regional trade, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian assistance.”
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will finance the project at a cost of 165 million dollars. The president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Haruhiko Kuroda met with Afghanistan’s Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal today, and traveled to Mazar-e-Sharif to see the construction site.
According to the press release: “From 2002 to the end of 2009, ADB provided Afghanistan with approximately $2.1 billion in Asian Development Fund (ADF) loans, ADF grants, technical assistance, donor-funded co-financing and grant investment projects, and private sector investments.”
May 25, 2010
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development
Americans Restore Historic Masjid
Afghan and American Officials at the Goldasta Masjid Ceremony in Kabul – May 19, 2010
The Goldasta Masjid in Kabul was built a long time ago, some sources claim about 800 years ago. While some of it was destroyed during the 1990s, its main structure withstood the decades of fierce fighting in Afghanistan. Last week, On May 19th, Minister of Information and Cultural Affairs Sayed Makhdoom Raheen, Minister of Religious Affairs and Hajj Khawas Khan Niazi, and U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry held a celebration marking the end of the the renovations to the masjid. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul provided $82,000 for the renovation of the masjid, and it took two years to complete the job.
“The process of restoring Goldasta Mosque [Masjid] not only brought a new community facility back to life, but it has contributed to the revival of traditional building crafts such as joinery and plastering,” said Ambassador Eikenberry. “Dozens of skilled workers and craftsmen worked on the project; the mosque [masjid] is a great example of their remarkable talents.”
The Americans had also completed work on the Khoja Rokhband Cistern in Herat and the Mullah Mahmud Masjid in Kabul. They are also funding restoration projects under way for the Shish Nal Masjid in Herat, Ulya Madrassa in Kabul, Noh Gonbad Masjid in Balkh and the Qala Ikhtyaruddin citadel in Herat.
May 23, 2010
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Posted in: Reconstruction and Development
Revenue collection swells in eastern Afghanistan
Customs houses in eastern Afghanistan are making extraordinary progress in collecting revenues, far above the set target, thanks to new technologies put in place and the simplification of Customs procedures.
According to data made available to United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) by the Customs officials in the eastern regional hub of Jalalabad, the officials were able to collect 3 billion Afs (US$ 60 million) soon after the Automatic System of Customs Data (ASYCUDA) was set up in Jalalabad and Torkham along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in January 2006.
The target was 2 billion Afs (US$ 40 million), said Jalalabad Customs House Director Ehsanullah Kamawal.
Since then, the revenue collection has been swelling every year.
“In 2009, the targeted amount was 6.75 billion Afs (US$ 135 million) but we were able to collect almost 9.07 billion Afs (US$ 181.4 million), 34 per cent more than the target set by the Ministry of Finance,” said Mr Kamawal.
In 2005, before the new system was put in place with assistance from the World Bank and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), a total of 2.1 billion Afs was collected in revenue.
May 21, 2010
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy
The World Bank’s Economic Update On Afghanistan
Here’s what the World Bank is reporting in it’s most recent economic update on Afghanistan:
Economic Expanision
- GDP growth between 2009 and 2010 is estimated to have reached 22.5%, a record since 2003-4. A strong rebound in agriculture (53%), helped mainly by ample and well-distributed rainfall is behind the surge in growth.
- Wheat production nearly doubled to 5 million tonnes compared to a preceding five year average of 3.4 million tonnes. Services continued to grow in double digits, led by government services, financial sector and transport services. Mining is booming as well with near 30% growth in the last two years.
- Afghanistan also achieved a remarkable surge in domestic revenues during 2009/10, collecting 53% more than the previous year and 16% more than budgeted. Improved tax administration underpins much of the revenue increase. Domestic revenue collection increased by 68% and custom duties surged by 48%.
- Robust growth and low inflation has reduced poverty in Afghanistan.
Economic Outlook
The outlook for the current fiscal year, 2010/11, is favorable, with GDP growth slightly higher than 8% and mild inflation, under 5%. As agriculture falls back to normal growth, service sectors will once again provide much of the growth in the coming year, benefiting from government- and donor-spending.
The mining sector will continue to grow vigorously, as the construction phase of the Aynak copper mine intensifies. It is likely that the growth outlook might be revised up if development spending picks up after the Kabul conference, scheduled for July 2010. At that conference the government will be announcing implementation plans for the London Agenda.
On the inflation front, there appears to be little cause for worry, though disinflation appears to have ended. The prospects for cereal production are good, with winter and spring crops developing under generally favorable conditions, according to FAO assessments. Some susceptibility to imported prices remains, as even in a good year about one-sixth of cereals are imported. Non-food prices are rising, but at a modest pace, below 5%.
May 19, 2010
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy
Afghan cricket team raising funds to build schools
Afghan cricket team
Afghanistan’s national cricket team has set up a website that sells cricket jerseys, and the money they raise from the selling of these jerseys will go towards building a school in the village of each player.
The idea to raise money to build schools was first introduced by one of the team’s star players, Mohammad Nabi, who is an all rounder who can bat consecutive 6’s.
According to the site, the recently retired middle order batsman, Raees Ahmadzai is “committed to education for boys and girls. He is hoping to build a school for girls, as there currently isn’t one, as well as develop the girls cricket team in his village.”
This is their way of giving something back to their country.
To find out more about each player and the villages they are from, check out the official site at: www.proudtobeanafghan.com
May 18, 2010
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Posted in: Afghan Sports News, Education, Reconstruction and Development
More now have access to electricity in Faryab and a new school in Uruzgan inaugurated
Faryab and Uruzgan Provinces
Afghan media reported earlier this week that around 6000 families in the Shirin Tagab district of Afghanistan’s northern province of Faryab now have electricity. They are no longer dependent on the use of lamps to light their houses at night. Faryab Governor’s spokesman, Ahamd Jawed Bidar, told reporters that 11 electricity centers have been established in the district of Shirin Tagab, and with these new centers, 90 percent of the people in the area now have electricity.
Meanwhile in Afghanistan’s central province of Uruzgan, Afghan and foreign officials inaugurated a brand new primary school this week. The new school has 35 classrooms, 18 bathrooms, a storage room as well as administrative rooms. Funding was provided by the Australian government. The cost of the project was 1.8 million dollars.
May 13, 2010
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Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development
New School Building And Masjid Inaugurated In Balkh Province
Afghan and foreign officials inaugurate the new building of the Ali Chapan School.
Last week, On May 4th, Afghan officials, led by Balkh Governor, Atta Mohammad, and officials from NATO inaugurated a new school building for the Ali Chapan School in Mazar-e-Sharif.
The new school building has enough classrooms to meet the educational needs of 1,340 pupils. According to a NATO press release, “the building cost €80,000 and was funded by the Lachen Helfen e.V.’ and Bundeswehr hilft Kindern in der dritten Welt e.V.’ organizations.”
Two days later, Afghan officials, once again led by Balkh Governor, Atta Mohammad, and officials from NATO inaugurated a new Masjid (Mosque) at Camp Marmal, in Mazar-e-Sharif.
Muslim soldiers, civilian employees of Regional Command-North, as well as the many Afghan workers at the camp will now have a masjid to go to in order to pray. The masjid took 6 months to complete at a cost of €50,000.
May 11, 2010
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Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development
Four Afghans win gold in the Asian Powerlifting Championships
On Saturday, May 8th, Pajhwok Afghan News reported that four Afghan weightlifters competing in the recently held seven-day Asian Powerlifting Championships have won gold medals. Moreover, Ali Raza Rafezada, a 28 year old from Herat province, won the gold in the 270kg category, thus becoming Asia’s “number one weightlifter”. The second place went to Iran and third to Mongolia. The other Afghans who won gold were Jamil Arab, Ali Ahmad Shahabi and Muhammad Nadar Mujaddidi.The competition was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and representatives from 46 countries participated in the event. On May 8th, the head of National Olympic Committee, Mohammad Zahir Akhtar, attended a gathering held in order to honor the accomplishments of the Afghan weightlifters.
May 11, 2010
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Posted in: Afghan Sports News
Railway Development A Key To Afghanistan’s Economic Development
A robust railway system will improve Afghanistan's economy
In order for Afghanistan to be able to increase the shipments of fuels, foods, construction material and various goods, it needs to have an extensive railway system.
A railway system will reduce Afghanistan’s isolation, as well as decrease Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistan in order to get goods in and out of the country. Moving goods through the Pakistani border right now is risky and dangerous.
The good news is that workers are already laying tracks across northern Afghanistan’s rolling grassland. The project is being funded by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank. This railway line will not only help to develop the north, it will also further link Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran. Cities in the north like Mazar-e-Sharif can become major Afghan transport hubs. There is a lot of gas, oil and coal in northern Afghanistan, and a robust railway system can help move this material to be exported and bring in millions if not billions in revenues one day.
Just last week, Afghanistan’s Finance Minister, Omar Zakhilwal, announced that the Japanese government has promised $1 billion to further develop Afghanistan’s railway system. The plan is to build a railway line from Balkh in the north to Herat province in the west.
May 9, 2010
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development
Medical facilities re-open in Herat
Herat, Afghanistan
A ceremony was held in Afghanistan’s western province of Herat yesterday to officially re-open and celebrate the completion of refurbishment activities on two medical facilities – a pediatric and a regional hospital.
Structural repairs were done on the regional hospital, and new medical equipment were installed in the first aid, radiology, laboratory analysis, and operating rooms. A new electrical system was also installed in the hospital. More than one million euros was spent on the pediatric hospital in order to bring it to near new status. Major renovations were made, and training for the medical and paramedical personnel was also provided. The pediatric hospital has 100 beds.
Together, the two hospitals provide medical care to more than 1 million people in Herat.
May 6, 2010
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Posted in: Health News, Reconstruction and Development
