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Hundreds of people in Bamiyan, central Afghan province, poured out onto streets to protest the delay in asphalting the highways of Bamiyan province as per the earlier promises of the country’s President. They blocked the highway and in anger used mad instead of charcoal to asphalt the main road. They demanded that if the government doesn’t have the capacity and capability to asphalt the main highways of Bamiyan province, they would use mud instead of charcoal for such a purpose and do it themselves. The angry crowd harshly criticized the serving President for failing to uphold his promises.
Jawad Zahak, the head of Provincial Council in an interview with foreign news channel said that the President of the country in his numerous visits to the province had promised to asphalt the main roads of the city and Kabul-Bamiyan Highway. However, neither this promise nor tens of others of his promises brought about any fulfillment. The Provinicial Council Head said, “Bamiyan has never benefited its share of Billions of dollars in aid from the international community to Afghanistan”. He added, “The government, despite a 100% peace in the province, has not paid any attention towards the reconstruction and economic affairs of the province. Now, the public want to attract the attention of the government.”
The Provincial Council Head went on to explain that “the wish of the public is to see the main highways and roads asphalted sooner than later.” He further said, “The people of Bamiyan want to see that at least they have a share in billions of dollars of aid that poured into the country from the international community. They want to see that their province also goes through the process of reconstruction and that they will get their share in the billions of dollars of aids to Afghanistan promised in the future.” He pointed out to the fact that “Bamiyan province as a whole has got only two kilometers of asphalted road which was constructed last year with minimum breadth and minimum budget.”
He further warned that if the concerns of the people are not taken notice of and that their voices go unheard, the public would continue with their demonstrations and would do what they would wish to.
The only woman governor in Afghanistan and the governor of Bamiyan province where a large contingent of New Zealand forces are stationed, Habiba Sorabi maintained that so far no federal Ministry has shown agreement in taking up the responsibility of reconstructing Bamiyan Province. She assured that she would communicate the concerns of the public with the central government. She also lamented that not enough attention has been given to this poor province.
To analysts this is what creates frustration in the public. This frustration will further lead to more destruction and migration of the people from their ancestral lands. While billions of dollars have been spent in fighting terror and reconstruction of war zones, Bamiyan with its peaceful nature needs its share too to rebuild. Only certain NGO’s have established their medical facilities, schools and water sanitation plants while the government on its terms has done nothing substantial for the province.
Bamiyan was once the hub of international tourism for it housed the two giant standing Buddhas which were unfortunately demolished by the fantastic Taliban regime in 1997.
