Deputy PM Mullah Baradar Akhund's Speech at the Inauguration of Palatuni Dam

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Respected Government officials, scholars, mujahideen, representatives of the media, and the honorable people of Paktika!

Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah!

I am filled with a sense of joy as we gather today for the inauguration of another vital infrastructure project for the prosperity of our country.

Praise be to Allah! The Islamic Emirate is once again taking a step towards managing an essential element that Allah Almighty has linked to the survival of all life, and whose value is increasing globally with each passing day.

The Islamic Emirate has recognized that a strong economy relies on agriculture, and agriculture, in turn, depends on water as the most critical resource. To achieve this goal, the Islamic Emirate has prioritized water management and has devoted significant attention to it.

With the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate, the nation has moved towards self-sufficiency and social and economic progress, including the effective utilization of natural resources. Investment opportunities have been made available to both domestic and foreign investors in this area.

Given that the people of Paktika are deprived and the region is well-suited for a dam, the Islamic Emirate has the responsibility to address their issues and initiate and complete projects that can alleviate their economic challenges to some extent.

The Islamic Emirate will make every effort, using the available resources, to expedite the construction of the Palatuni Dam, and we call on the contracted company to complete this project with the highest quality, utmost integrity, and dedication as soon as possible. We assure them of our full cooperation and support.

Fortunately, following the victory in the country, the Economic Commission held meetings where working teams led by the Ministry of Water and Energy were appointed to assess and initiate the practical work on large and medium-sized dams nationwide, which were either incomplete or had not yet begun. These teams prepared comprehensive, all-encompassing plans for the evaluation and implementation of these dams. After receiving approval from His Excellency, the Amir al-Mu'minin, the practical work on many dams began, among which we can mention the Kamal Khan, Bakhshabad, Pashdan, and Aghajan dams as examples. Today, we are beginning the practical work on the Palatuni Dam.

This project, supported financially by the Islamic Emirate and implemented by the Ministry of Water and Energy, will be completed in two and a half years. Upon completion, it will strengthen water resources for the central area of this province, Sharana, and the surrounding regions, irrigate agricultural lands, control floods, and play a significant role in environmental protection.

With the implementation of the Palatuni Dam project, hundreds of our fellow citizens will have direct and indirect employment opportunities, approximately 25 million cubic meters of water will be stored, 2,500 hectares of land will be irrigated, and 935 kilowatts of electricity will be generated.

In conclusion, I extend my gratitude to the honorable officials and the noble people of Paktika for their hospitality and warm welcome.

Thank you for your attention.