Bamyan Governor to visit NZ

Capt Matt Gauldie, Army Artist, with Dr Habibi Sorabi and his portrait of her.

22 February 2008

Dr Habibi Sorabi, the Governor of Bamyan Province in Afghanistan, will visit New Zealand next week. While in New Zealand Dr Sorabi will meet with Prime Minister Helen Clark, Defence Minister Phil Goff, Chief of Defence Force LT GEN Jerry Mateparae, and various staff from NZAID, MFAT, and Refugee and Migrant Services. 

The New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction team (NZPRT) is now in its 11th rotation in Afghanistan and 107 NZDF personnel are currently serving there, mostly in Bamyan province.  Part of the NZ PRT’s role in Bamyan is to support provincial and local government by providing advice and assistance to the Provincial Governor, the Afghan National Police, and district sub-governors. On several occasions Dr Sarabi has expressed her thanks to the NZ PRT for making a difference to the health and welfare of the people of Bamyan. 

Bamyan is one of the central provinces of Afghanistan, and is located in what is known as the Central Highlands Region. It is bordered by the provinces of Sar-e-pol and Samagan to the north, Baghlan, Parwan and Wardak to the east, Ghazni, Oruzgan and Dai Kundi to the south, and Ghowr to the west.

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