March 20 - Stability in the central province of Ghor could be at risk if its development priorities are not addressed, warned the provincial governor in a one-day forum that brought together local and central government officials with the United Nations and other members of the international community.

Continuous power supply, construction of schools and labs for the provincial hospital, and the establishment of a drug rehabilitation center are among the key priorities for the province, said Ghor Governor Abdullah Hewadwal, who hosted Wednesday’s forum with technical and financial assistance from the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Michael Keating, UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG) for Afghanistan, called the development forum a “wonderful initiative.”

“The key to a better future is in the hand of Afghans and Afghans will be the ones to rebuild the country. The international community is ready to support these Afghan-led efforts,” the Deputy Special Representative told the gathered representatives.

Ghor only has two kilometers of paved road in the province and parts of it have electricity for only three hours a day, according to a statistical report read by the Governor.

Only 104 schools registered by the Ministry of Education out of 706 have hard wall buildings, and there is no system to irrigate arable land, the Governor added.

Local authorities also noted that about 80 per cent of the population is unemployed, and one out of every eight is addicted to drugs.

Governor Hewadwal stressed that discontented residents would be more likely to join Anti-Government Elements unless the central government and international community act to address some of the development challenges in the province.

Among the initiatives being organized by the central government to assist Ghor, efforts are underway to create saffron training farms as an alternative to drug farming, said Ahmad Shafahee, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture.

Dozens of vehicles and tractors will be distributed to farmers and implementers of agriculture programs in the province.

Ghor is the fourth province, after neighbouring Herat, Badghis, and Farah provinces where local and national officials met with international donor representatives in UNAMA-supported development forums.

By UNAMA Herat