Press Release

USAID and Afghan Ministry of Transportation & Civil Aviation Open Lashkar Gah’s Bost Airstrip

Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan  | Wednesday, June 03, 2009

On June 3, 2009, the United States, in partnership with the Afghan Ministry of Transportation & Civil Aviation (MoTCA), opened Lashkar Gah’s Bost Airstrip in Helmand Province. Bost is the only completely civilian airstrip in Southern Afghanistan and is the catalyst for re-establishing commercial air service in Helmand.

At opening ceremony, Helmand Governor Alhaj Gulab Mangal thanked the United States, noting that “The Bost Airstrip is a demonstration of America’s commitment to the Afghan people.”

Bost Airstrip is now a 2,000 meter long paved runway with a 300 meter safety area. The runway is 30 meters wide and flanked on both sides by a 5 meter shoulder. Venco Imtiaz Construction Company, an Afghan firm, built the runway under the supervision of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

MoTCA authorized the runway for use by light aircraft and occasional use by larger aircraft. Passenger air service between Lashkar Gah and Kabul is expected to begin in July 2009.

Adjacent to the Bost airstrip, the United States is building the 33-hectare Helmand Agriculture Center, an agriculture-specific industrial park. The Agricultural Center is expected to create 2,500 direct jobs in manufacturing, processing, services, and site maintenance. Construction of the Agricultural Center commenced in April 2009.

U.S. Ambassador Eikenberry expressed his support, responding that, “The United States is proud to support large-scale civilian development projects for the people of Helmand.”