Residents of Ahmad Aba district in Paktia demand the resumption of the unfinished work on the Machalgho water and power dam.

They say that the completion of this dam will not only boost the agricultural sector but also increase the groundwater level.

Jan Mohammad, a resident of Ahmad Aba district, said: "Our demand from the government is to build this dam so that a lot of land can be irrigated and developed, and poor people can find work."

Wakil, another resident of this district, said: "The dam's work is halted and should resume as soon as possible so that people can benefit from it. There is still no dam and nothing else."

Mirza Jan, a resident of Ahmad Aba, about the completion of this dam's work, said: "We need this dam very much because all our lands and all the dry plains depend on it. If the dam is built, water will reach these lands, apples and other crops will yield very well, and job opportunities will be provided for people."

The Machalgho Dam is located in Ahmad Aba district of Paktia, and the work on it remained unfinished after the fall of the previous regime. Residents of Ahmad Aba district say that if the remaining work on the Machalgho Dam is not completed, the work already done will be destroyed due to flooding.

Ahmad, a resident of Ahmad Aba district, said: "The work on Machalgho Dam has stopped. The canals that were built have also been damaged by floods. But now that security has been established, the remaining work on this dam should also start because we desperately need water and electricity."

Meanwhile, local officials say that if the World Bank resumes work on incomplete projects in Afghanistan, the work on this dam will also be completed.

Mohammad Karim Fateh, head of the Paktia sub-basin, said: "The work on Machalgho Dam began during the republic era, about 35 percent of the work was completed, and canals were also built. The Islamic Emirate is also committed to completing incomplete projects. If the World Bank, which had announced the completion of unfinished projects in 1403 (2024), starts these projects, we are hopeful and assure our compatriots that, God willing, the work on the Machalgho Dam will also begin."

According to information from the Paktia sub-basin administration, the Machalgho Dam has the capacity to irrigate 2,300 hectares of land and produce about 10 megawatts of electricity.