Residents of several remote areas in Dand Patan district of Paktia province said they have limited access to the basic necessities of life.
They call on local authorities to address the challenges faced by people in the far-flung parts of the district.
One such area is the hard-to-reach Sery Kas region in Dand Patan district. Although the road to this area was recently built through efforts by the provincial administration, due to intertribal conflicts, residents are still unable to use it, and for over three decades, people have had to travel on foot.
Niaz Omar, a resident of Dand Patan, said: “I face many problems because I am blind. It’s not just me—everyone in the village is affected, especially our patients. We transport the sick using animals.”
Lal Marjan, another resident, said: “The land dispute began 28 years ago, during the previous Islamic Emirate. That’s why we have mobility issues and no facilities have been provided here.”
Around 300 families live in Sery Kas, where transporting patients and essential goods remains a serious challenge. Due to the absence of a girls’ school, no girls in the area attend school.
A Dand Patan resident, Ikhlas Mohammad, said: “Our biggest problem is the lack of a clinic. We don’t have a health center in our area. There are other issues as well—we also need a school.”
However, local officials say development projects are underway to address the district’s challenges.
Ziauddin Asim, deputy district governor of Dand Patan, told TOLOnews: “The approved budget addresses many of the challenges. A clean drinking water project has been surveyed and, God willing, will be implemented. A mosque is also planned and will be built for the residents.”
Besides Sery Kas, many other remote areas in Dand Patan district also have only limited access to healthcare, clean drinking water, telecommunications, and proper roads.