KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday said Afghanistan’s trade deficit posed a threat to the country’s future, stressing promotion of domestic products.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the launch of the 4th National Urban Conference here, Ghani said the unfavorable trade balance was a threat to Afghanistan.
The event titled ‘Moving towards Sustainable Cities’ was held at the Presidential Palace.
Ghani, terming promotion of domestic products extremely important, said: “We import food worth $2 billion and building materials and others worth $1 billion. However, none of these goods are needed to be imported from foreign countries.”
Meanwhile, President Ghani called adoption of urban culture as vital for the citizenry, saying: ‘Until we don’t change ourselves into citizens and don’t create the urban culture, we can’t own a city. And balance should be observed in the development of cities across the country.”
President Ghani also informed about ongoing efforts at shifting key government departments to Darul Aman neighborhood of Kabul city. “In early spring, we will witness the construction of a complex in Darul Aman area for relocating key government departments from Kabul city centre.”
The president expressed concern over illegally usurped government land, saying mayors, governors and police chiefs were responsible to reclaim state-owned land and make more efforts in this regard.
He informed about the Chief Justice’s decision regarding establishment of a special court for addressing the land grabbing issue and said the High Council for Rule of Law was seriously pursuing the matter.
“I am not satisfied with the performance of Department of Government Cases at the Ministry of Justice with regard to retaking usurped lands.”
Ghani also said the lack of the country’s water management was a legacy the unity government inherited from the previous administration, saying efforts to resolve the water crisis in Kabul had been ongoing over the past three years and soon work would be launched on a dam to meet Kabul needs.
Speaking on the occasion, Sayed Sadat Mansoor Naderi, the Minister of Urban Development, recalled his ministry’s achievements. Referring to Afghanistan membership of the World Council of Good Urban Governance, he said it was a big achievement.
“Afghanistan’s membership in the council is a good opportunity and Afghanistan can offer its schemes in the field”.
