On April 19, 500 provincial authorities and community representatives attended a ceremony celebrating the beginning of asphalt paving of the Fayzabad section of the Kishim-Fayzabad Road. The 103-km road is one of the most ambitious construction projects underway in Afghanistan. Winding through mountains and rough terrain, the seven-meter wide highway will facilitate transportation in the remote northern province of Badakhshan. Eventually, the road will serve as a vital link in the Afghan Government’s plans to construct a two-lane road to the international border with China, increasing trade opportunities and decreasing travel time.