Afghans talk trash with Paktya PRT

PAKTYA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

12.21.2010

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 101

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Gardez residents recently told members of the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team that they want the local government to clean up its act.

“There’s trash everywhere," said one Gardez store owner during a Dec. 18 PRT market walk. "And the municipalities are not doing anything to clean these streets.”

Members of the PRT quickly noticed the locals in Gardez are serious about their desire to clean up the city and are looking to their government to address the issue.

Local government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials working in the municipal office have partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development on the Regional Afghan Municipal Program for Urban Populations program - also known as RAMP UP.

RAMP UP focuses on cleaning the streets and improving the quality of life for Afghans.

“For management reasons, the city will be split up into four districts. We have 25 laborers hired from within the city and 27 more have just been approved from outside sources,” said Obaidullah Arif, the team leader for the Paktya RAMP UP program. “Seeing is believing, and we will show the people that we are working for them.”

The program will not only be effective in cleaning the city and improving the quality of life for local citizens, said Arif, it will also provide jobs for 52 individuals.

“[U.S. Agency for International Development] is also funding the use of two trucks and three motorbikes, as well as the provision of uniforms for these workers for the duration of this project,” said Herve Thomas, the USAID representative for the PRT.

In a meeting with Gardez Mayor Agha Mohammad, he discussed how locals have easy access to him and the municipal staff, where they can discuss important issues and voice their concerns. He also expressed his excitement for the RAMP UP program and the good it will do for the city of Gardez.

“It is a good program,” said the mayor. “We are working hard to close the gap between the government and its citizens.”

• Date Taken: 12.21.2010
• Date Posted: 12.26.2010 16:53
• Story ID: 62639
• Location: PAKTYA PROVINCE, AF