KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on Wednesday said he would in person oversee big  project contracts in order to curb corruption, saying fundamental changes in government’s system for the sake of reforms needed time.

The president was talking to lawmakers from Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Zabul and Daikundi provinces at his office, the Presidential Palace said in a statement.

Ghani said the people of Afghanistan faced a lot of problems, which could be resolved in cooperation with elders, religious scholars, women and youth.

He said his next meeting with the lawmakers would evaluate progress on decisions made at today’s meeting. The next meeting would discuss progress in resolution of problems and reasons why some problems remained, the president said.

He said practical measures would be launched to address hurdles to the construction of roads and hydropower dams under the national infrastructure development plan to be ready over the next

Ghani said he would in person monitor big contracts in order to curb corruption, adding reforms in the government system needed enough time.

“Bringing reforms is a matter of time. Some need short-term planning and others long-term, but I need time to bring about fundamental changes to the system.” (Pajhwok)