On December 20, President Hamid Karzai received Afghan youth from the provinces of Balkh, Jowzjan Faryab, Badghis and Kunduz at the Gul Khana Palace.

Abdul Ahad Makhdom and Muhammad Ekram Yawar, on behalf of others, expressed their support for the Government’s programmes.

The students said, “We must acquire education because only educated people can rebuild the country. Only then this ancient land of culture and knowledge can stand alongside other civilised nations.”

The students asked the President to pay more attention to remote provinces when distributing scholarships.

Praising the students, the President said, “Your efforts in acquiring education give me hope for a prosperous future. The Afghan Government will use every means possible for the improvement of education and won’t spare any effort.”

The President also encouraged school graduates to join the Afghan national police and army for the sake of protecting Afghanistan’s territorial integrity.