KABUL - Contracts worth more than five billion afghanis for three road construction projects were signed on Tuesday between the Ministry of Public Works and local construction companies.
The signing ceremony was held at the office of 2nd Vice President Sarwar Danish in the presence of the public works minister, representatives of the construction companies and some lawmakers.  
Public Works Minister Mahmood Baleegh said the first project was the construction of Fairzokoh Road in western Ghor province in Gardan Diwal area.
The 60km long and 10 meters wide road would cost four billion and 463 million afs provided from the government budget and take 32 months to complete.
The second project, the Lesai Numan Shahr Road between Charikar and Qala-i-Band of Bagram district would be constructed, he added. 
Baleegh said the road --- 13km long and 9-metre wide --- would cost 250 million afs with financial support from Japan and would take 14 months to be put into service.
He said the third project --- 25km of roads inside Aibak city of northern Samangan province --- would be constructed.
During the ceremony, lawmakers asked the contractors to implement the projects with sincerity and without delay.
Sarwar Danish welcomed the development and said despite some security issues, huge development projects such as Salma Dam, Kajaki Dam, the 500kv power line through Salang Pass were either put into service or being in progress. 
He said national development projects would create a competitive environment between Afghanistan and its neighboring countries and that would be in the interest of all of them.(Pajhwok)