KABUL (PAN): People across Afghanistan face a multitude of problems, and millions came out to cast votes on August 20 to elect a president who could answer their demands.
Prior to the election, Pajhwok Afghan News interviewed Afghans in many provinces to hear their concerns. This report highlights the messages to the president from 14 residents in 12 provinces - six women and eight men.
Although the demands and problems of the people are different depending on their areas and living conditions, the common issue is the restoration of peace.
Badghis
Pistachio forests, which are on the verge of vanishing, must be preserved, said Muhammad Anwar of the Aab Kamari district, located around 340 kilometres west of Kabul. The province has five districts and is famous for pistachio production.
The 50-year-old expressed concern over the destruction of pistachio forests and demanded of the president to “pay special attention to the forests -- a national asset."
Badakhshan
Located around 540 kilometres north-east of Kabul, Badakhshan has 28 districts. The province shares a border with Tajikistan.
Faiz Muhammad, resident of Shaghnan district, demanded of the president to take stern action against smugglers who use the border route with Tajikistan.
Two sons of the 50-year-old man are drug addicts mainly because of the smuggling activity in the area. “Save my children and punish the smugglers,” demanded Faiz Muhammad.
The other serious problem that needed urgent attention was the road closure during winter, said Muhammad. He added that the people could hardly manage to bring their patients to hospitals during winter.
Nasima, 30, resident of Arghistan district and mother of two, demanded of the president to construct a maternity home in the area.
Laghman
Residents of this eastern province want the government to ensure security in their area. Located around 140 kilometre east of Kabul, Laghman province has four districts.
Some of those districts are not secure and the foremost demand of the people there is restoration of security.
Twenty-two-year-old Tariq of the Alishang district says he will ask the president to restore security if he comes across him some time. Father of two, Tariq believes security is the most important issue.
Sikh and Hindu
The minority community members, who were roughly 20,000 before the civil war, have now dwindled to 3,000 in Afghanistan.
Awtar Sing, who represents the minority Hindu and Sikh community in the Meshrano Jirga, said education must be ensured in the native language. He said provision of shelter to homeless was also among the key demands of his community.
About his demand from the president Awtar Singh said: "We want the president to ensure security, peace, bring national unity and equality and ensure the same rights to the minorities being enjoyed by the Muslims."
Jawzjan
Insecurity and unemployment are among the key problems of the people of this northern province, located 580 kilometres north of Kabul.
Amina, 40, resident of Qosh Tapa district, complained that lack of security and non-availability of clean drinking water were their main problems. “We want restoration of peace and provision of clean drinking water," she added.
Some residents also complained about the administrative corruption. Fida Muhammad, resident of the provincial capital of Shiberghan, wants the president to overcome the corruption in governmental departments and strictly direct the governors and their deputies to stop the large scale corruption.
Ghor
Ghor is located 980 kilometres from Kabul and has nine districts. Feroza, 42, resident of Chaghcheran, capital of the province, demanded of the president to construct roads, schools and bridges. She said Taliban should be eliminated because they were forcing girls not to attend schools.
Uruzgan
Uruzgan is also a central province located 670 kilometres from Kabul. Roadside landmine blasts, rocket attacks and clashes, operations by foreign troops and civilian casualties are considered as the biggest problems by the people there.
Khayal Bibi, 55, resident of the provincial capital of Tirinkot, who lost six sons in fighting in Afghanistan, asked the president to restore peace and provide food to the people.
Kunduz
Kunduz is located some 340 kilometres from Kabul and joining border with the neighbouring Tajikistan. A vast majority of Kunduz dwellers also complained about insecurity in the province.
Forty-year-old Muhammad Saeed, a driver by profession and dweller of Chardara district, demanded of the president to ensure security and provide jobs to people.
Samangan
Samangan is located about 300 kilometres north of Kabul. In addition to other problems, non-availability of clean drinking water is also a major demand of the people there.
Aqila, 27, resident of Aibko village near the provincial capital Aibak, said none of her village’s people had access to clean drinking water. Employee of a non-governmental organization, Aqil wants to president to ensure provision of clean drinking water to the people.
Helmand
Helmand is located in the southern zone and considered the most insecure province of the country due to the mounting Taliban activity over the past few years. Helmand province has 11 official and two informal districts. It is located some 650 kilometres from Kabul.
Five of the districts were under Taliban control some time ago. However, two of those were retaken by the Afghan and international troops while three are still under Taliban control.
Shafiullah, 29, a driver and resident of Nad Ali district, demanded of the president to ensure security and take steps to alleviate poverty.
Ghazni
Ghazni province is located some 150 kilometres south of Kabul and has 18 districts. Pashtana, 21, resident of Moqur district and a student of the Nangarhar University, said insecurity was the main problem. “I want the president to restore peace and fulfill the promises made with the people," she said.
Nangarhar
People of Sherzad district in this eastern province are still looking for the government assistance pledged after the recent earthquake there. The district is located 50 kilometres west of Jalalabad, capital of the province.
The earthquake this year destroyed 300 houses and killed 600 cattle heads. Twenty people were wounded. Most of the residents are poor in this mountainous province where people have little cultivable land.
Ismail, 22, resident of the district and soldier of the Afghan National Army (ANA), said his 8-year-old brother was killed and his house was destroyed in the earthquake. His first demand from the president is to construct shelter for the homeless people.
Kandahar
Kandahar has 15 official and two unofficial districts. The province is located around 500 kilometres south of Kabul.
Najibullah, resident of Dand district and a farmer in his area, said insecurity plagues the people. If he were to come face to face with the president, Najibullah says he will ask for the restoration of peace and security.
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