Engineer Mohammad Nawab, Ghazni Environmental Protection Agency director, and members from his staff show U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Laura G. Childs, Task Force White Eagle Ghazni Texas Agribusiness Development Team IV Project Manager, from Katy, Texas, key components of the completed Arbaba Environmental Park, Ghazni District, Afghanistan, April 27. (Photo by Artur Weber, Task Force White Eagle Public Affairs)

Regional Command East - Afghanistan
Story by Artur Weber
Task Force White Eagle Public Affairs

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (May 3, 2011) – Task Force White Eagle Texas Agribusiness Development Team IV attended a ground breaking ceremony hosted by Ghazni Deputy sub-Gov. Mohammad Ali Ahmadi at the Ghazni Governor’s compound April 27.

This ceremony launched a new project designed by Engineer Abdull Karim of the Ghazni Governor’s office and facilitated by the Texas ADT to improve security and environmental needs at several locations in Ghazni City.

“One aspect of this project will raise the height of the perimeter wall around the Ghanzi governor’s compound which will greatly improve security,” said U.S. Army Maj. John L. Davis, Texas ADT agriculture expert team leader.

In addition to the wall, engineers will construct a guard post security personnel can use to search visitors to the compound. This will provide a safe and secure facility for female police officers to screen female visitors in a culturally respectful manner, said Davis. Similar guard posts will be built at the Jahan Malika Girls High School and the Provincial Council compound.

Additionally, engineers will repair the governor’s compound’s irrigation system and improve its landscaping.

“The whole project will last from 60 to 90 days, so Afghan locals should see the results very quickly,” said Davis.

To make the contractor selection process as transparent as possible, the contractor selection committee included representatives from the Provincial Council, governor's office, the Department of Agriculture and the Ghazni mayor’s office.

According to the TF White Eagle, including representatives from these departments ensures oversight and ownership from the governmental representatives, which will make great strides in the sustainability of the project after its completion.

On the same day, Texas ADT representatives travelled to Arbaba Village, Ghazni District, to conduct a final site assessment of the newly constructed Arbaba Environmental Park.

In 2005, President Karzai transferred the 20 jeribs of land (approximately 10 acres) to the Ghazni Environmental Protection Agency for use as an environmental park and to be a showcase site for the 2013 Islamic Conference in Ghazni City.

Arbaba Park will serve as a conservation park where people can learn about preserving the natural resources of Afghanistan. The park will feature a tree farm, which will be developed and maintained Nawab, the Ghazni EPA director.

In the past, Afghanistan was covered with dense forests and groves, which today are virtually non-existent. Over the years in Ghazni Province, Afghans used wood for fuel and building material which depleted the resources. Parks like Arbaba will improving the forests and greenery of Ghazni Province “All Ghazni people can use this park. But they have to care about everything here,” said Nawab.

To increase security in the park, the Polish Ghazni PRT constructed a perimeter wall, a project completed in late 2010.

“The Director of the EPA, Engineer Nawab, has done an excellent job in overseeing this project,” said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Laura G. Childs, project manager for Ghazni Texas ADT IV of TF White Eagle. “He is passionate about the environment and sees a great need in Afghanistan to teach the local Afghan population how to protect their land. In a country that has faced years of war and turmoil, the environment has not been a primary concern. Arbaba Park will offer Engineer Nawab an excellent location to improve awareness of the importance of protecting the environment.”