Local officials in southern Zabul province said Sunday that the budget for a new provincial airport is insufficient to complete the construction, but they will begin building it anyway.
The Ministry of Finance has allocated US$1million for the airport which is expected to be built in the coming year, however local officials told TOLOnews that "it is not enough for a standard airport".
Nevertheless, construction on the project will begin.
"We will try to have an airport in the province and very soon we will start the construction work," acting provincial chief Mohammad Jan Rasouliar said.
Zabul member of Parliament Hamidullah Tokhi said they have requested from the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to build the airport because the residents of Zabul were facing major transport problems.
"We are in talks with the Ministry of Transportation and Aviation to start the work. We have been speaking to the government and we convinced them to build an airport for the residents of the province," he said.
The construction of an airport is expected to play an important role in development in the province and lessen threats from insurgents faced by residents and traders on the highways.