KABUL (TCA) — Afghanistan’s Finance Ministry and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on December 17 signed an agreement for the ADB to provide a US $400 million aid package for Afghanistan’s development projects, TOLOnews reports.
According to the ministry, the new aid package will be invested in the reconstruction of the Kabul-Kandahar highway, construction of the Qaisar-Dara Bom road, and the extension of the 220-kilovolt electricity line from Arghandi area in Kabul to Jalalabad city in Nangarhar.
The extension of the electricity line from Arghandi to Jalalabad is a part of the projects which will be funded by the new aid package provided by the ADB.
“The Kabul-Kandahar highway will be reconstructed from Ghazni to Kandahar because it is in a very bad condition and the government has decided to start the reconstruction work,” Mustafa Arya, head of the donation coordination department of the finance ministry said.
With the completion of the electricity project from Kabul to Jalalabad, around 300 megawatts of electricity will be provided for the eastern Afghan provinces.
ADB deputy country director for Afghanistan, Shanny Campbell, said implementation of these projects is very important for the development of the country.
“The project is part of a $1.2 billion dollar energy supply improvement investment program which runs from 2015 to 2024. It is financed through the Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund (AITF) which is administered by ADB,” said Campbell.
According to the finance ministry, in addition to the construction of Qaisar-Dara Bom road, schools, hospitals and government buildings will also be established alongside the road.
