Ahmad Jan Bilal, General Director of State-Owned Corporations, met with Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad during a visit to Iran to discuss expanding cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

Bilal, accompanied by Mohammad Nasir Rahimi, chief executive of the Afghan state-owned Oil and Gas Corporation, held talks with the Iranian minister on supplying Afghanistan with its oil and gas needs, technical and vocational training, and joint cooperation in oil and gas exploration.

Bilal and his delegation also visited the Iranian Oil Ministry’s research center and oil refineries in Tehran, where they reviewed the facilities’ technical and professional activities and capabilities.

The Iranian side expressed readiness for comprehensive cooperation, necessary coordination and implementation of joint projects in the areas discussed.

At the end of the meeting, both sides introduced joint technical teams tasked with coordinating and following up on the necessary measures to implement the agreed areas of cooperation.

Kandahar Governor Mullah Mohammad Shirin Akhund has called on the World Bank to implement major and essential development projects in the southern Afghan province.

The remarks were made during a meeting with Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Group country director for Afghanistan, and Richard Trenchard, representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

At the meeting, Hadad-Zervos briefed Kandahar officials on the World Bank’s activities and assistance across Afghanistan, as well as the work of the FAO, provincial governor’s office said in a statement.

He said the World Bank has continued its operations in Afghanistan since the Islamic Emirate came to power, while the FAO’s financial activities are also funded by the World Bank.

According to Hadad-Zervos, the organizations are working in areas including health, humanitarian assistance, education, clean water and agriculture.

He said the World Bank and local authorities had also begun joint efforts to implement projects aimed at strengthening the private sector and creating employment opportunities.

Kandahar Governor Mullah Mohammad Shirin Akhund welcomed the visiting officials and praised the assistance and cooperation provided by the World Bank and FAO.

He called on the World Bank to implement major projects in Kandahar, including raising the height of the Dahla Dam, continued support for Mirwais Regional Hospital, construction of cold-storage facilities and check dams, expanding markets for fresh and dried fruits, and supporting alternative crops to replace narcotics cultivation.

The Kandahar governor said Afghans had endured years of hardship and should therefore be provided with essential and quality public services.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned an attack on a mosque in Kohat city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during Friday prayers.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry’s spokesman described attacks on places of worship as “unjustifiable and condemnable.”

The ministry also expressed sympathy with the families of those killed and injured in the incident.

At least 16 people were killed and 57 others injured in the blast in Kohat on Friday.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.