India pledges $2.87m to strengthen public transport in Afghanistan

Kabul [Afghanistan], Nov 28 (ANI): India has pledged to contribute about USD 2.87 million to Afghanistan in its latest financial assistance to the neighbouring country.

The assistance will be used to repair around 350 public buses in the country.

The Khaama Press quoted the Embassy of India in Kabul, as saying, in a statement: "Continuing its long-standing development support to the people of Afghanistan, the Government of India (GoI) has today agreed to provide financial assistance of USD 2.87 million to the Ministry of Transport of Afghanistan."

"The Assistance would be used to procure spare parts for M/s Milli Bus Enterprise for refurbishment of 350 previous supplied buses under GoI assistance. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for this was signed today by H.E Manpreet Vohra, Ambassador of India and H.E Mohammad Tahmasi, Minister of Transport of Afghanistan," the statement added.

The refurbished buses will help strengthen the public transport network of Kabul and expected to be operational by the end of next year, according to the statement.

India has helped Afghanistan time and again in its reconstruction since the fall of the Taliban regime.

It has helped the country with over USD 2 billion, used in the construction of the major Salma Dam, the new Afghan parliament building, Zaranj-Delaram highway, and few other projects. (ANI)