KABUL - President Ashraf said on Saturday political pressures and other obstacles had forced the appointment of acting leaders of some government organs.
Ghani arrived in Herat on Friday to jointly inaugurate the Salma Dam project with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has also reached the western province today.
The $300 million landmark dam is located two kilometers from the Salma village of the Chisht-i-Sharif district of the province and 176 km east of Herat City.
During a meeting with provincial council members, President Ghani said the inauguration of the dam would bring electricity to many people, particularly residents of Herat province.
He added the recent inauguration of some economic projects had paved the ground for regional cooperation. Construction work on roads connecting Afghanistan with regional countries would be paid special attention, he promised.
About government departments led by acting heads, Ghani said political pressures and other obstacles were behind the compulsion. However, he assured the problem would be resolved in the near future.
At a separate meeting with civil society activists, the president pledged awarding deterrent punishments to terrorists and kidnappers. Civil society activists referred to the shortage of professional schoolteachers, kidnappings, governors’ powers and an end to acting leadership.
In response, Ghani asserted his administration’s determination to crush kidnappers and award them severe punishments.
Herat would be supplied reliable power, he said, adding railway lines and roads would convert it into a developed province. The president also met a number of ulema and influential figures.
They supported government’s programmes, asking the president to take serious steps for combating corruption in government offices. Law should be applied equally to all people, including powerful individuals and warlords.
The president, after hearing religious scholars’ views, said those creating security problems would face strong action. He assured practical measures were being adopted to curb corruption. (Pajhwok)