KHOST CITY (SW): The Khost Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) has charged Wolesi Jirga (lower house) members for embezzlement of funds earmarked for development projects here.
Nawab Amirzay, president for the KCCI, told Salam Watandar members of the WJ from the province have accumulated huge fortune by interfering in development projects, and resulting in sub-standard development work that does not last for long.
Urging the government to take immediate steps towards curbing this interference, Amirzay said teams of inspectors from Kabul are often bribed by the MPs in Khost to report positively about the faulty development projects. Khost residents expressed similar concerns about endemic corruption in the development projects.
Meanwhile, Shershah Urgoni, deputy governor, argued there are no documented proofs available to back allegations against MPs. He went on to say that a large number of major development projects are contracted in the capital Kabul, and the provincial government is not aware about its details.
Mohammad Dawood, deputy director for economy, said he is not member of the National Procurement Commission (NPC), hence he does not know about potential interference in development projects. Dawood is head of monitoring team overlooking development work at the Khost Airport.
Not all are in favor of blaming the MPs for all the troubles. Zahra Jalal, a member of the provincial council, stressed there are some corrupt elements, but not all MPs can be labelled as corrupt. She underlined that corruption in development projects is equal to national treason.
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