Saturday December 31, 2016
Kabul (BNA) President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani held video conference with governors, leadership and members of the provincial councils of 34 provinces here on Thursday evening, the presidential press office said.
According to the statement, the session was attended by Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, senior security officials, some cabinet members, presidential advisors and acting head of the local organs to address problems ahead of the provincial councils. Thanking provincial councils’ support of the government and security forces, President Ghani termed provincial councils’ role crucial in support of the government, security forces and defeating the enemies. The president congratulate the provincial councils’ for successfully conducting the elections of selecting the administrative panels, praising women’s role in the councils’ to better address the challenges before women across the country, the statement added. According to the statement, the president said that has reviewed the demands of the provincial councils which has been submitted to the presidential palace, which includes construction of administrative buildings in the provinces, insufficient budget to conduct public ceremonies, Hajj share, transportation and security, adding practical measures would be taken to address the demands, the statement added. The president instructed the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing to construct administrative buildings for the provincial councils in Kabul, Bamyan, Nimroz, Faryab, Laghman, Nuristan, Kunar, Kunduz, Ghazni, Farah and Logar provinces. The president also instructed Ministry of Finance to allocated amount of 50 million and 533 thousands of Afghanis for the councils to organize their public events. The president also instructed the Ministry of Hajj to consider provincial councils’ Hajj shares as well as the local organs to purchase 17 vehicles in fiscal year of 1396 and 17 others in fiscal year of 1397 to solve the transportation problems, the statement said. Ministry of Interior was also tasked to take necessary steps for the security of provincial councils’ members and their administrative offices and submit a draft plan to the National Security Council (NSC). Meanwhile the President asked the provincial councils’ members to organize their public events and inform people on enemies’ vicious goals, counter corruption, land grabbling and bolster the ties between the people and government. Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah besides praying for the souls of the martyrs, praised the support of provincial councils’ members from the government and security forces, asking them to continue their supports, the statement added. “You are the bridge between government and the people. Your advices should be based on law so that to bring change in people’s life,” Dr. Abdullah said as quoted in the statement.
