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    Farah Provincial Government celebrates with the people of Kadanak

    KADANAK VILLAGE, AFGHANISTAN

    02.14.2010

    Story by Master Sgt. Tracy DeMarco 

    Provincial Reconstruction Team Farah

    FARAH, Afghanistan — After just four months and 10 days, the village of Kadanak has electricity, is generating enough power to support more than 200 families, and celebrating with its government.

    The entire Provincial Council was in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony along with several provincial line directors and Farah province Gov. Rahool Amin.

    "Welcome everyone," said Amin. "Today, we are going to inaugurate the kind of project that will secure the future."

    Kadanak is the second village in Farah province to successfully self-sustain electric power. The Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team initiated the electrification project with local contractor Abdul Ghani, whose 15 member team installed 100 street lights and 286 electric poles, constructed a generator building and installed a 160 kilowatt generator.

    Power means so many things to the Afghan people explained Amin, "When we have power, we can know what is going on in the world, we can learn, study, and get educated."

    Also witnessing this historic moment was the PRT commander, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Lawrence Vasquez, who said, "Every project that the PRT takes on is coordinated with and led by the provincial line directors and decided upon by them for the betterment of the people of Afghanistan."

    Haji Ali Mohammad Wakili, the deputy of the Kadanak Council, took time to thank the coalition forces for spending time away from their families and making sacrifices for Afghanistan. "We should teach our children to never forget the coalition forces and the international support."

    Following several speeches and a small appreciation ceremony for the Farah PRT Civil Affairs Team, Cmdr. Vasquez, and Abdul Ghani, a light pink ribbon was ceremonially strung across the doorway of the generator building. The climatic conclusion of the event was when Amin started the generator and flipped a switch turning on the lights in the generator room.

    Mohammad Nazir Khedmat, director of the Farah Provincial Council was thrilled to see so many government officials present. "It is a good message to the enemy," he said, "that our government is unified and that we are aligned with the foreigners."

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.14.2010
    Date Posted: 02.22.2010 03:03
    Story ID: 45660
    Location: KADANAK VILLAGE, AF

    Web Views: 165
    Downloads: 136

    PUBLIC DOMAIN