Taliban’s procurement commission led by Abdul Ghani Baradar has approved six infrastructure projects valued at 3.3 billion Afghanis, or approximately $37 million, according to a statement released Sunday by Baradar’s office.
According to the statement, 18 proposed projects were reviewed, but only six received final approval.
Among the greenlit projects are the construction of a water reservoir in the Qadis Khordak district of Badghis Province, the development of a road connecting Bagram district to Koh Safi in Parwan Province, and the extension of electricity to the districts of Qush Tepa and Darzab in northern Jawzjan Province. Funding for all approved projects will come from the Taliban-run administration’s domestic revenues, the statement said.
The announcement comes at a time when the Taliban are under increasing criticism from local residents and civil society groups for what they describe as slow implementation of public infrastructure projects and favoritism in awarding contracts.
