Afghanistan: 2 schools, bridge being constructed

PANJSHER CITY/KABUL/ZARANJ (PAN): A US-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), based in the northern Panjsher province, has launched the construction of two schools and a bridge in Paryan district. Maulana Abdul Rahman Kabiri, deputy governor of Panjsher, told Pajhwok Afghan News the high school would cost $ 320,000 and the middle $280,000. The schools, each housing 900 students, will be completed in six months. Either of the single-storeyed school would have 21 rooms. Paryan district chief Ghulam Sakhi said schools in the area had no proper buildings, with the result that students had to sit in the open to receive education. But the problem would be resolved once the buildings were erected, he hoped. A month back, the PRT constructed a two-storey girls' high school in Bazarak center of Panjsher at the cost of $ 175,000. Provincial education department officials said over 50,000 students including 10,000 girls were studying in 75 schools, 32 of which did not have buildings. Kabiri said a construction work on a bridge had also begun in the same district, where residents had to be content with makeshift wooden passages. The project would solve transportation problems of the people, he continued. More than 1400 families are expected to benefit from the pavement of a road and irrigation projects in Shakardara district of the Kabul province. Ajmal Paiman, spokesman for Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, said the projects were completed in Dolana, Allah Noor, Sayedkhel and Youniskhel villages at the cost of over six million afghanis.