RASC News Agency: Some traders in Herat province, situated in western Afghanistan, have reported that 75% of trading companies in the province’s industrial park are inaccessible. Zalmay Azimi, a trader from western Afghanistan, informed the RASC news agency on Saturday, April 13th, that recent developments in Afghanistan have led to the blockage of 75% of the companies in the province’s industrial park, causing their owners to flee the country.
He further elaborated that most national traders are reluctant to return to Afghanistan and invest due to the prevailing instability, political turmoil, insecurity, and the illegitimacy of both internal and external Taliban factions. Meanwhile, Mosa Karimi, another Afghanistani trader, informed RASC that the blockade of these large and small companies in Herat province has severely impacted the economy and its residents.
He mentioned that currently, over 20,000 individuals have lost their jobs due to the closure of these companies in the industrial park of Herat and have sought refuge in neighboring countries, particularly Iran. Gholam Sakhi, a worker in this industrial park, stated to RASC, “For more than two years, some of the companies in the industrial park have ceased operations due to economic hardships, leaving hundreds of workers unemployed.”
Sakhi added that despite Iran’s challenging economic situation, most unemployed individuals are attempting to migrate there, urging officials to foster employment opportunities within the country. Meanwhile, Jalil Hakimi, an economic affairs expert in western Afghanistan, asserted that unlike the two previous governments, the Taliban’s administration has failed to provide a conducive economic environment and employment prospects for various sectors.
He noted that “the sporadic efforts by the Taliban to collect public taxes and ceremonially inaugurate facilities do not alleviate the suffering of the Afghanistan populace.” He stressed that “instead of engaging in superficial initiatives at the urban level, they should focus on implementing substantial and foundational measures to generate livelihoods for a significant portion of the population.”
Taliban officials in Herat province have yet to comment on this issue. These comments coincide with a cardboard manufacturing company, which, after several halts in operations, has managed to recommence its economic activities in the industrial park of Herat province.
