LOC16:47
13:47 GMT
AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION TO COST US 5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN SHORT-TERM
ISLAMABAD -- THE 10-YEAR FIGURE FOR RECONSTRUCTION COST HAS BEEN PUT AT 15
BILLION DOLLARS. HOWEVER, THE TOKYO ROUND IS LIKELY TO FOCUS ON SHORT-TERM
REQUIREMENTS.
PART OF THE ESTIMATE FOR THE FIRST 30 MONTHS UNDER AFGHANISTAN NEW
ARRANGEMENT WILL HAVE TO COVER THE COUNTRY'S RECURRENT COSTS AS ITS
AUTHORITIES ARE UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT TAXES IN THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE COUNTRY WILL NEED ABOUT 1.8 BILLION DOLLARS
TO COVER RECURRENT COSTS DURING THIS PERIOD, INCLUDING THE SALARIES OF CIVIL
SERVANTS WHO LOST THEIR JOBS DURING THE TALIBAN ERA AND WHO THE INTERIM
AUTHORITY PLANS TO REHIRE.
IN EARLIER AFGHAN GOVERNMENTS, ABOUT 43 PERCENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS WERE
WOMEN. THE DOCUMENT OF DISCUSSION IN TOKYO IS A PRELIMINARY NEEDS ASSESSMENT,
WITH FURTHER WORK ON A MORE COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PLANNED TO TAKE
PLACE IN AFGHANISTAN SOON.
THE COUNTRY'S INTERIM ADMINISTRATION IS EXPECTED TO PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE
IN DRAWING UP THE PRIORITIES FOR A RECONSTRUCTION STRATEGY BASED ON THE
INITIAL FINDINGS OF THE ASSESSMENT. (END)
MYK.RK
KUNA 171647 Jan 02NNNN