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Afghan officials open new district center

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Brian Wagner
  • Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul
QALAT, Afghanistan --  More than 90 local nationals from Shajoy, Zabul province, gathered inside the newly built Shajoy District Center walls for the opening ceremony of the center, Dec. 23.

Provincial Gov. Ashraf Naseri and other provincial leaders were on hand to announce the opening and participate in a ribbon cutting and flag raising ceremony.

"With the opening of this center, people will now have better access to their government and be able to address their problems with district leaders," said Gov. Naseri.

During his speech, the governor asked the people of Shajoy to, "Cooperate and discuss issues with district leaders so we can help you."

Member of Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul also attended to witness the event.

"The opening of the district center shows to the people of Shajoy that local government has increased capabilities and can get things done," said Army 2nd Lt. Paul Knudtson, Shajoy District support team lead. "The new district center will house a radio station and an ID card section. It will also house offices for an agriculture representative, a land management representative, a Shajoy bazaar mayor and the district advisor."

Lieutenant Knudtson said the old center will be renovated and turned into the Operations Coordination Center (District), or OCC-D, once district officials move into the new building next door. OCC-Ds are centers for security planning and command and control of district security forces.

Shajoy District Gov. Mullah Abdul Quayum also spoke at the event emphasizing the importance of the center's opening.

"This project was not for the government, but for the people of Shajoy," he said. "It will allow us to address problems in the villages and connect people to the government."

After the ribbon cutting and flag raising ceremonies, provincial and district leaders gathered outside the center to announce the start of the wheat seed distribution. Approximately 1,700 farmers will redeem vouchers for wheat seed and fertilizer packages in the coming days.

The center is located in an International Security Assistance Force designated key terrain district in southern Afghanistan. A key terrain district is an area that is identified by ISAF as critical to stabilizing and supporting the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.