BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): Presidential candidate Gul Agha Sherzai, who arrived in central Bamyan province in connection with his election campaign, on Sunday promised asphalting 50 kilometres of roads in the province.
Addressing a gathering arranged by Hezb-i-Wahdat Milli Islami party in Bamyan City, the former Nangarhar governor also promised the construction of industrial parks, vocational schools, development of the tourism industry and electricity projects.
Sherzai chided Laura Bush for asphalting only two kilometers of road in Bamyan with US aid, saying he had blacktopped 2,400 kilometers of roads. The road between the airport and the Bamyan Township has been asphalted with American aid.
Sherzai said if he won the April elections, he would launch reconstruction projects in Bamyan and Daikundi. “I am famous as bulldozer. When I was the governor of Nangarhar, I had manged to receive $5,500 million in aid from donors and spent the money on the province’s reconstruction.”
Syed Hussain Alami Balkhi, one of Sherzai’s running mates, said Sherzai had chosen his deputies to be Mujahid, not seculars returning from the West. Sherzai also opened his campaign office in Bamyan.
In northern Faryab province, hundreds of Junbish-i-Islami Party workers staged a rally in support of Ahmadzai. Dr. Gul Mohammad, one of the rally organisers, said Junbish workers backed Ahmadzai because their leader Rashid Dostum was his running mate.