GARDEZ - Members of Paktya’s provincial council and civil society organizations have signed an agreement aimed at promoting participatory and accountable governance in the region.

The aim is to advocate for civil society organizations to engage in local governance and build constructive connections among the local institutions to promote good governance.

Around 50 participants including the deputy provincial governor, chairman and members of the provincial council, government officials, representatives of civil society organizations and media outlets attended the meeting.

Both sides agreed that MoU will serve as a guiding document for their future correspondence and cooperation.

The MoU defines the professional relationship between the provincial council and civil society organizations and clarifies the roles, responsibilities and activities to prevent any misconceptions.

The Chairman of the Provincial Council of Paktya, Sardar Khan Malangzoi, said that the establishment of the partnership is the first ever initiative of its kind in the country and he hoped that it will bridge the gap between the people and their elected representatives.

The Deputy Provincial Governor, Abdul Wali Sehi, said the initiative is beneficial: “It will help increase cooperation among institutions, remove misconceptions and build the confidence of people in government and institutions,” said Mr. Sehi.