Farah Provincial Governor Rahool Amin and other provincial level officials conducted a two-day visit to Pur Chaman, Afghanistan, Farah Province’s most remote district, to conduct a shura and meet with district level officials to promote governance and development, Sept. 15.
Several hundred local Pur Chaman residents attended the shura held at the district center as their provincial government officials addressed governmental issues and concerns. Gov. Amin focused on five main topics for the district, which include “fatiha” or prayers for the deceased to show the sacrifice the people of Pur Chaman have made to increase security, the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, reintegration and reconciliation, cutting poppy production, and reconstruction and development projects.
“It is good to address the needs of the people of Pur Chaman,” said Gov. Amin, “To bring government officials from different political parties together to solve problems is how business should be done.”
Gov. Amin, in coordination with Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Farah, proposed six new development projects in the district during the visit. The projects include a micro hydro plant to develop electrification, a bee keeping facility to promote the district’s high honey production, adding solar street lights, a boys’ school, a health clinic expansion, and a security wall to be built surrounding a girls’ school.
The health clinic and girls’ school are completed PRT Farah funded projects aimed at stimulating development in the district. The 16-room girls’ school provides education for girls living in Pur Chaman with teachers and school materials provided by the Ministry of Education.
The expansion of the health clinic will allow additional space for a mid-wife and birthing area for female residents delivering children.
The visit enhanced relations with provincial government officials and their respecting district government officials by allowing face-to-face meetings and resolution of governance issues.
“Our trip to Pur Chaman was an excellent opportunity to facilitate provincial level officials reconnecting with their district level counterparts, even in one of the most remote parts of Afghanistan,” said Mark Thornburg, U.S. Department of State representative for PRT Farah.
The visit marked Gov. Amin’s second trip to Pur Chaman within four months, with plans to visit again in the future to continue governmental relations with the district government.
Pur Chaman, which translates to “full of orchards,” is a district which spans approximately 7,000 sq. kilometers in the north eastern corner of Farah Province. Approximately 40,000 residents occupy the district, where honey and almond production largely dominate the area’s economy.
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