Khost gets new medical university; water improvements made in Jalalabad
Khost Governor, Abdul Jabbar Naeemi
In other news, PAN reported last week that a new water supply has been put into service in the Ganda Chema area of Jalalabad city. Niamatullah Rahimi, the United Nations’ regional head told PAN that the system will supply 2,000 families with clean water in the Jalalabad first, second, and third zones. The $2 million Japanese funded system draws water through a 3,000 meter long pipe using a generator powered pump. It features two sources with each able to store 1,000 cubic meters of water. PAN also reported that according to Parvaiz Alishingai, head of the irrigation department, they previously were only able to bring water to 30 families and now they will be directly delivering clean water to 38 percent of the residents. Though the generator draws and delivers less water during times of hot weather, it will address the needs of Jalalabad residents who PAN reported as having problems accessing water when demand increases during summer.
April 29, 2012
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Posted in: Education, Health News, Reconstruction and Development
Construction work has begun on two new roads in northern Afghanistan
Construction work on two new roads funded by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) has begun, according to recent reports from Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN). One is A 75 kilometer road connecting Maimi and Shaghnan districts in northeastern Badakhshan province, and the other is a 45 kilometer road from Balamarghab district that reaches the Sang-i-Atash area within the Maqur district in Badghis province. Both roads will provide a better connection to their respective provincial capitals.
The Maimi-Shaghnan road will cost $15 million dollars and take two years to complete. It also includes two large bridges that will be built by five local reconstruction companies. When finished, the commuting from the districts to the provincial capital will take two days whereas the current route takes twelve days and passes through nine different districts. An official told PAN that the road will also connect Maimi residents with a bazaar on the border of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.
The Balamarghab-Sang-i-Atash project is projected to cost the MRRD $2.36 million and will likely be completed within one year. This road will make a currently difficult commute much easier and all workers employed will be from the Balamarghab and Maqur districts.
April 23, 2012
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Posted in: Job Creation, Reconstruction and Development
New school building inaugurated and another school is reopened
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education announced today that a new building for a girls middle school was inaugurated in the Gosfandi district of Afghanistan’s province of Sar-e Pol. A special ceremony was held to honor the event in which community leaders, teachers and students attended. The school building took 1 year to build at a cost of 5 million afghanis. Funding for the project was provided by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). The school building has 7 classrooms, 2 administrative rooms, 5 bathrooms, and a water well.
In other education news, Afghanistan’s Bakhtar News Agency (BNA) reported yesterday that the Ghani Khail High School in the Tagab district of Kapisa province was reopened. The school had been shut down due to security issues. The BNA report stated that order had been established and the school was reopened, thanks to the cooperation of the local community elders. The report added that school supplies were also donated to the school. Approximately 500 students are enrolled in this school.
April 22, 2012
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Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights
Afghan MMA fighter makes history – wins his first ever UFC fight!
Siyar Bahadurzada
Last night, at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Afghan mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Siyar Bahadurzada knocked out his Brazilian opponent Paulo Thiago in just 42 seconds of the first round. Bahadurzada made history as he has now become the first ever Afghan to fight in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), the largest MMA organization in the world. Bahadurzada landed a powerful right hand to Thiago’s jaw. The punch snapped Thiago’s head around causing him to fall unconscious to the mat, face-first. Bahadurzada is known for being a powerful striker, and last night he proved it to thousands of MMA fans worldwide. In fact, over 50% of his wins have come from either a knock out or a technical knock out. The UFC also announced that Bahadurzada was given the “Knockout of the Night” honors, and was awarded an extra $50,000.
After the fight, Bahadurzada told America’s Fox Sports TV Network that he fights for Afghanistan. “When I have the flag on my shoulders, I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes with that. I just want to put Afghanistan in positive news headlines. That is my goal. That is what I want to do for my country.”
With this win, Bahadurzada improves his record to 21 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw. Bahadurzada is anxious to fight again. “There will be more knockouts like this. I promise you”, Bahadurzada said. Bahadurzada is also the 3 times and reigning Shooto light heavyweight champion of the world and the Golden Glory World Series 2010/2011 welterweight champion.
April 15, 2012
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Posted in: Afghan Sports News
First-ever international airport to be built in Ghazni
Last week, Pajhwok Afghan News reported that the first-ever international airport will be built in Afghanistan’s province of Ghazni. PAN reported that the foundation stone has already been laid by the provincial governor, Musa Khan Akbarzada. The airport, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013, will be built in the Deh Yak district of the province. The residents of Ghazni will not be the only ones to benefit from this project. Residents in the neighboring provinces of Logar, Paktika, Wardak and Zabul will also benefit from the new airport. The construction project will not only provide work opportunities to thousands of people, it will also make travel to foreign countries easier for more Afghans.
April 15, 2012
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Job Creation, Reconstruction and Development
New school building inaugurated in Nangarhar, another to be built in Parwan
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education announced today that a building for a vocational high school specializing in agriculture was inaugurated in the Rodat district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. Officials as well as students and teachers were present in a special opening ceremony. According to a ministry official, the school building was built in 5 months at a cost of $84,000. The new building has 4 classrooms, 1 administrative room, a laboratory, and 3 restrooms.
Elswhere in Parwan province’s Jabal Saraj district, a foundation stone for a new building for a boys’ high school was laid down. Officials as well as students and teachers were present in a special ceremony marking the occasion. The new building will be built in 15 months at a cost of $500,000. Once completed, it will have 22 classrooms, and 4 administrative rooms. With the construction of this new school building, the educational needs of the students in the area will be better met.
April 8, 2012
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Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development
Uruzgan gets first university, and new medical faculty to be built for Nangarhar University
Afghanistan’s central province of Uruzgan opened it’s first-ever public sector university last week, officials announced to the Afghan media. Afghan officials, such as the deputy governor, parliament members, as well as teachers and students participated in the inaugural ceremony. Resident of the province see the establishment of this school as a major achievement, especially for those who cannot travel outside the province due to financial difficulties. The school will help improve the overall education system in the province. At the moment, the school only has an education faculty, however, several new faculties are expected to be created soon, according to the provincial education officials.
In other education news, Afghan media also reported that the foundation stone was laid down yesterday for a new building for the medical faculty at Nangarhar University. The project costs have not been announced yet, however, it is being partly funded by private Afghan businessmen.
March 31, 2012
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Posted in: Education, Reconstruction and Development
Cement factory to be built in Herat province
Wahidullah Shahrani, Afghan Minister of Mines
The Iranian company Peshgaman Sanat-i-Majad will invest $150 million in establishing a cement factory that will produce one million tons of cement in the Zinda Jan district of Herat province, according to a report today from Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN).
Afghanistan’s Minister of Mines, Wahidullah Shahrani said that this project will boost the country’s annual revenue by $10 million. Under the agreement signed with the Iranian company, Afghanistan will get a royalty of two dollars per ton of cement production and 20 percent of the factory income in tax.
The agreement also includes coal extraction. The company will give Afghanistan $20 as tax per a ton of coal extraction. The coal will be extracted from the Pahlawanan mine. Also, the Iranian company has agreed to construct 11 kilometers of road, hire Afghans for the work, and establish a clinic, and construct houses, as well as a masjid for the workers in the area.
According to the PAN report, a recreational park will also be created and education facilities provided for workers’ children. The report also added that this will not only increase revenue for the government, but will also reduce cement prices.
March 18, 2012
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Education, Job Creation, Reconstruction and Development
Afghanistan is victorious at the 2012 ACC U-16 Challenge Cup
Afghanistan's U-16 Cricket Team
Afghanistan’s U-16 (Under 16) cricket team went undefeated and won the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) U-16 Challenge Cup today in Thailand. The event had started on March 3rd in Chiang Mail, Thailand. Besides Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, Maldives Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) participated in the event.
On day one, Afghanistan took on Maldives and defeated them by a massive 316 runs. Afghanistan reached 353 for 5 off 40 overs. Maldives only reached 37 off 22.1 overs. Afghanistan’s captain, Jawed Ahmadzai, even scored the first century of the event by scoring an amazing 161 runs. On day two, Afghanistan took on Bhutan and easily defeated them by 311 runs. Afghanistan went 354 for 5 off 40 overs, and Bhutan went 43 all out off 21 overs. Then for their third win, they faced off against the tough team from the UAE and still defeated them by 2 wickets. Following that win, they took on China and won that game by 349 runs.
In the final match, they took on Qatar and won by 92 runs to wrap it all up and become the champions. Afghanistan scored 200 runs all out off 37.1 overs, and Qatar scored only 108 runs all out off 31 overs. On top of that, in a closing ceremony held at the conclusion of the tournament, Afghanistan’s Parvis Khan was given the batsman of the tournament award, and his team-made Naween-ul Haq was given the bowler of the tournament award.
This win shows that the future of cricket is very bright in Afghanistan, and one day, they will join the ranks of such teams as Australia, India and South Africa.
March 10, 2012
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Posted in: Afghan Sports News
Hospital opened in Khost, 90 schools to be built in Ghazni
A new maternity hospital was opened in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Khost, Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) reported today. The hospital which was opened by the international humanitarian organization, the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), is a 56-bed maternity hospital which has a delivery room that offers obstetric care for normal and complicated deliveries, and an operating area for emergency surgeries. According to the PAN report, all healthcare services and medicines will be free of charge.
In other good news, PAN also reported last week that 90 new schools will be built during the next solar year in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province. According to the Education Director, Ihsanullah Nashir, the construction of the school buildings will take place simultaneously.
March 4, 2012
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Posted in: Education, Health News, Reconstruction and Development, Women's Rights
Construction work starts on new recreation park in Helmand, and new customs building in Kunar
Construction work has started on a recreation park in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand, according to a recent report from Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN). The project is expected to cost about $50,000 and most of the money is being donated by the local residents. The part is being constructed over half an acre of land, and it is expected to have many facilities.
Meanwhile, also according to a Pajhwok Afghan News report, the foundation stone for a new customs building has been laid in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Kunar. This project has been funded by the Ministry of Finance, and is estimated to cost an approximate $908,724 or 45 million Afs. This project should take a year to complete, according to Kunar’s provincial governor, Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi. This facility is being built with the hope that it will spur transit trade activity on the road that connects the Nawa Pass area of Kunar with Pakistan’s Bajaur and Mohmand tribal areas.
February 28, 2012
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Posted in: Afghanistan's Economy, Reconstruction and Development
Afghan boxer wins WBU title!
Hamid Rahimi
On Friday night, February 24th, in front of a sold out crowd in Hamburg Germany, Afghan boxer Hamid Rahimi made history and defeated Ruslan Rodivich from Belarus to become the interim World Boxing Union (WBU) middle weight champion.
The fight was scheduled for 12 rounds, but had to be stopped in the 8th since Rodivich was getting out punched and was falling into serious trouble. with this win, Rahimi improves his record to 20 wins; he’s only lost one time.
Rahimi was born on September 12, 1983 in Kabul, Afghanistan. He has announced to the media on several occasions that his dream is to host the first ever professional boxing event in Kabul.
February 25, 2012
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Posted in: Afghan Sports News
