Hundreds lose jobs as Lashkargah project ends

Hundreds of youth were rendered jobless after the completion of “Pak aw Zarghon City” project in this capital city of southern Helmand province, the world’s leading opium producing region.
The $1.5 million project was launched last year in Lashkargah and ended in August this year, rendering 1100 people jobless including 24 women.
A joint venture of donor agencies and the provincial Municipality Department, the project was aimed at keeping Lashkargah City clean by removing filth and garbage besides some construction and designing works to add beauty to the city, according to Abdul Manan, the project director.
He told Pajhwok Afghan News the project was for one year and it finished last August. He said 80 percent of the $1.5 million was spent on workers and the remaining 20 percent on construction of four parks and installation of a solar system in Lashkargah.
Manan said 1100 individuals, including 24 women, had been working on the project clearing canals, removing and shifting garbage.
He said most of the project employees were former Taliban members and rehabilitated drug addicts. He urged the governor and other officials to ask donors to resume the same project.
Abdul Wali, an employee of the project, told Pajhwok that 1100 people who worked on the project fed 10,000 individuals in their families.
“We are poor people and our lives were fine due to the project as we were able to provide food to our families, the project should be restarted.”
Meanwhile, Attaullah Afghan, the provincial council chief, told Pajhwok that a number of powerful individuals had been trying get imaginary salaries for their relatives, but failed.
He said only deserving people had been working in the project and they were doing their job well and transparently.
Matiulllah Baheer, the provincial mayor, told Pajhwok that the Pak wa Zarghon city project provided jobs to hundreds of youth and he would try his best to bring more such projects for the youth in near future.