Special gathering pays tribute to Miakhel in Paktia

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): The Cultural Association of southeaste Paktia province on Saturday held a special meeting to pay tribute to academic and writer Shah Mahmood Miakhel.

The meeting held at the Paktia University was participated by dozens of culturists, writers, govement officials and others from Khost, Kabul and Paktia provinces.

Poet and writer, Daud Tapan, who participated in the event, said the gathering was aimed at appreciating services and contribution of Miakhel in areas of education, culture and politics.

Logar Goveor Mohammad Halim Fidai said: “It is important for us to work for intellectual development, as it has recently somehow improved.”

He said such gatherings had positive impact on intellectuals and encouraged them.

Fidai said Miakhel had honestly served in several fields, particularly in rehabilitation of rural areas as part of the govement during the past 14 years.

A writer from Khost, Ilyas Wahdat, said, “Miakhel has offered tireless efforts on political, cultural and educational fronts over the past few years and even opened education centers in rural areas using his personal budget.”

He said the ongoing problems in the country would be resolved if all Afghans followed into Miakhel’s footsteps.

At the end, Miakhel thanked organizers of the gathering and said such gatherings encouraged intellectuals.

“Our people have recently begun hailing intellectuals, which is a good initiative,” he said, promising to work for improvement of education and intellectuals.

Miakhel, a resident of easte Kunar province, has served as Country Director in Afghanistan for the US Institute of Peace (USIP). Prior to that he was a Goveance Advisor for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and, from 2003–2005, a Deputy Minister of the Interior in the Govement of Afghanistan.

In 1994–1995 he worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in South and Southeast Afghanistan helping to establish District Rehabilitation Shuras (DRS). He also worked as a reporter for the Pashto service of the Voice of America from 1985–1990.

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