Page 365

300 to those already in existence. Hospitals for women will be established at Gardez, Khost, Badakhshan, Maimana, Ghazni, and Farrah. Dental hospitals will be opened at Gardez, Kataghan and Mashriqi. Laboratories and clinics will be established at Khost, Badakhshan, Maimana, Ghazni and Farrah. Total cost is estimated at 102·970 million Afghanis (including 1·092 million dollars). Community Development and Municipal Projects :— The Government intends to work for the village uplift in 500 villages during the first year of the plan. This is to be extended to 1,620 villages in the second year, to 1,740 villages in the third year, to 1,860 villages in the fourth year and to 2,220 villages in the fifth and final year. The project will cost the Government. 166 million Afghanis. The foreign exchange expense for this project estimated at 2·500 million dollars will be paid through foreign aid and other miscellaneous foreign currency expenses. The municipalities will also be helped to supply good drinking water, to asphalt public streets and to provide parks and recreation grounds. Mines : Afghanistan is rich in some important minerals. The economic plan, within its means, provides the possibilities of utilizing these natural resources. Included in these projects are the drilling and search for petroleum (to be commenced at Saripul), physical and geological survey and exploitation in northern provinces, expansion of the exploitation of coal mines at Ishpushta, Karkar and other places in and around the Hindukush and Herat. The expenses in this line will amount to 242·439 million Afghanis (including 6 million dollars). Industries :—Present factories and industries will be completed and encouraged and new ones for textile, cement,