Kandahar provincial, Zharay district leaders discuss security gains at Zharay District Center

ZHARAY DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN

10.05.2011

Story by Spc. Melissa Stewart 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

ZHARAY DISTRICT, KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – In the second Governance, Reconstruction and Development shura held at the Zharay District Center in six months, the Kandahar Provincial Governor, Tooryalai Wesa, and various members of Kandahar provincial ministries came together with Zharay district officials, Oct. 5, to discuss progress being made and plans for the district in the upcoming months.

During the shura, several provincial ministry representatives, including the Ministries of Public Health, Agriculture and Education, each gave an update on their plans for helping residents of Zharay, while saying that the district had come a long way in providing essential services to the population. District Governor, Niaz Sarhadi, told the attendees that people living in the district are now standing up their own village shuras and watchgroups.

“People are supporting the government, and picking up their weapons to defend their villages,” said Sarhadi.

A common topic during Sarhadi’s statement was education and the expansion of schools across the district. He said that nearly 5,000 students were attending school throughout the area, with 1,000 of those being female students. He also highlighted the fact that Afghan and coalition forces officials were opening 14 schools this year, versus two that were opened last year.

Dr. Pohkla, the Provincial Ministry of Public Health representative, told the shura attendees that several medical clinics were opening in Zharay district, and said that medical staffs were already hired, and supplies delivered.

In an unexpected change to the speakers’ lineup, Sarhadi invited Haji Abdul Wali, a key influencer from Nalgham, to speak about security improvements in that area. Nalgham was previously known as a central Taliban operations node, and even had a Taliban operations center in the village center. With support from Afghan and coalition security forces, insurgents were virtually swept away from the village, and village leaders there have now started a security shura to defend the village.

During his impromptu speech, Haji Abdul Wali charged the provincial governor and his ministry leaders with providing more resources to the district, while looking out for the long-term impact on Zharay district.

“If it is for an hour or a day, do not give it to us,” Haji Abdul Wali said, referring to short-term projects the Kandahar government provides. “Give something to us that will last for our futures.”

Afghan-led meetings like this, show the significant improvement in Afghan governance, as well as the increased independence and stability of the Afghan leaders. The shura’s purpose was to convene local, district, and provincial leaders together to discuss plans for showing visible progress to residents of Zharay district.

• Date Taken: 10.05.2011
• Date Posted: 10.07.2011 10:27
• Story ID: 78165
• Location: ZHARAY DISTRICT, AF