At a conference held on Saturday in Khost province, the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) said that the infrastructural demands of the Khost were desperate and should be met as quickly as possible.
At the conference titled "Development Conference of Khost Province," restidents of Khost demanded that the government put more resources into infrastructural development and ensure that the Khost Airport construction is completed soon, along with several other projects.
The United Nations' office in Kabul and several other aid agencies responded to the statements made at the conference and promised to continue providing aid for development purposes in the province.
The IDLG also spoke about its achievements in the field of education, economy and other development programs in Khost. According to IDLG officials, since Khost shares its border with Pakistan there is ample opportunity to construct dams and improve agricultural and business ties with Pakistan.
However, the IDLG pointed out that a number of incomplete and pending projects are still a major challenge that need to be addressed.
"Construction of water dams, completion of airport projects, completion of infrastructural projects at the Ghulam Khan Port, access to improved agricultural techniques, protection of facilities and providing energy are some of the topics that were discussed in the conference," said Abdul Khaliq Farahi, the Director of the IDLG.
Several groups that participated in the conference said that Khost is at a strategic location that gives it great economic promise.
Asif Rahimi, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, and Wais Ahmad Barmak, the Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development were also present at the conference. They talked about agricultural reforms and ways to improve the living conditions of the Khost residents.
Khost is one of the eastern provinces of the country. The province has 10 official districts and 3 unofficial districts, with a population of around 1.1 million.