Project Description

New Airport Construction

Project Goals

The entire western provincial boundary runs through rugged and steep mountains acting as a barrier to inner Afghanistan. The province is isolated and shares a long border with Pakistan. The Khost-Gardez highway is the main road in and out of the province but 20-30 km of the road passing through the mountainous boundary region is not paved. There are no paved roads leading into or out of Khost province; there is no easy access to the province by auto and no access by air for the average Khosti, including most government officials. The K-G road can become impassable during the winter months while the Khost bowl and proposed airport site generally remain snow free throughout the winter. 

Many Khostis, primary breadwinners for their families, live and work in the UAE and other Persian Gulf Coast states and send most of their income back to their families in Khost. Estimates range from 40,000 to 70,000 Khostis every year supporting the gulf coast labor pool. This displaced income provides a significant boost to the new and continuing economic growth of the province. These Khostis have only two methods of travel between their homes and families in Khost and their workplaces in the Persian Gulf: by auto over bad roads and through dangerous and treacherous areas of Afghanistan and Iran on trips that can take days, or by air through the Kabul International Airport, the nearest to Khost, and then by auto back to Khost, a route that also traverses bad roads and dangerous areas and takes at least one day. 

Gulf coast ambassadors frequently visit Khost Province, notably UAE government officials who funded and built the Khost University, the Central Mosque in Khost City and one of the Khost hospitals. Their investment and funding for infrastructure and programs has been vital for development and growth in the province and will only increase with a quicker, safer and more convenient means of travel back and forth. 

Because of the difficult access to the province most national level government officials decline invitations and generally dont travel to the province unless to visit family or relatives. Additionally, with quicker, easier, safer access, NGOs and IOs will come to the province more often.

Because of its long shared border with Pakistan and the troubled Federally Administered Tribal Area and the Kurram Agency of Pakistan, Khost holds a strategic and critically important location for the entire eastern half of the country. 

Desired Project Effects: Easier, quicker, safer travel methods in and out of the province for government officials as well as average local national Aghans. The airport will provide quick access for at least 40,000 Khost families whose primary breadwinner lives and works in the Persian Gulf area. Increased capacity of district and provincial government - the airport with help narrow the gap between provincial and national government. This project is approved by the governor and the PDC and is on the PDP.

Results

Project cancelled due to the magnitude of the project and unresolved land issues. No disbursements made.

Updates

No updates provided.