PARWAN (SW): The vegetable processing plant in Charikar was established in 2004 after a Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of Afghanistan, Canada, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The facility was built on 13 jerib (approximately 2.6 hectors) of land in the north of Charikar city in Parwan province. However, after two years of operation, the work here was halted as a result of a landmine explosion inside the facility.
Recently, Salam Watandar has acquired documents which show that the land on which the factory was built has been usurped by the husband of Samia Azizi, a member of Wolesi Jirga (lower house of parliament).
In a letter No. 213 dated 20/7/2017, the Governorate of Parwan wrote to the Afghanistan Independent Land Authority, “ARAZI”, that Parwan Vegetable Processing Plant which includes 13 jerib (2.6 hectors) of land has been illegally seized by the husband of the WJ member.
Abdul Hamid Amiri, Director of ARAZI in Parwan province, told Salam Watandar that Abdul Wasi Azizi, the former Director of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Parwan province, and CEO of this factory, have illegally seized the factory with the help of his wife Samia Azizi, who is a member of WJ, and have re-opened the factory for personal gains.
According to the Director of ARAZI in Parwan province, the land of the Vegetable Processing Plant is public land, owned by the government, and Abdul Wasi Azizi, has no credible document to prove that the land belongs to him.
Mohammad Asim Asim, Governor of Parwan, also told Salam Watandar that the land is owned by the Government, and had been assigned to the vegetable processing plant by ARAZI.
“60% of the cost of the plant had been paid by non-repayable aid by the Government of Canada, and the USAID, and 40% of it was paid by a UK based organization and the land is owned by the government of Afghanistan”, the governor of Parwan said.
However, Abdul Wasi Azizi, CEO of Parwan Vegetable Processing Plant, has said that there is no document that can prove that this land is government-owned land. According to him, the vegetable processing plant is not a state-owned enterprise.
Samia Azizi Sadat, a member of WJ, has rejected the claims of authorities in Parwan, saying that she and her husband have not usurped the factory. She said on the contrary, she prevented the powerful people from usurping it.
The Parwan Vegetable Processing Plant has been out of business after two years of operation, and its future is still undecided.
ENDS
