RASC News Agency: In the aftermath of last Wednesday’s fire at the Herat customs office, merchants have raised serious concerns regarding the lack of firefighting systems at customs facilities. They assert that these systems must be urgently activated across all customs locations. Merchants reported that the recent fire at the Herat customs office, exacerbated by the absence of firefighting equipment, led to the complete destruction of over 40 trucks filled with commercial goods, resulting in losses amounting to millions of kabuli rupees.
Mohammad Younus Mohmand, Deputy Head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, stated, “We urge the Taliban government to appoint a specialized committee to thoroughly investigate this incident and similar occurrences, such as the fires at the Herat and Spin Boldak customs offices. The private sector is questioning why such incidents are not prevented and why there is a lack of firefighting equipment in these critical locations.” He emphasized that addressing this issue is a fundamental necessity to prevent substantial financial losses.
Ahmad Saeed Siddiqui, Deputy Head of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment, also confirmed the absence of firefighting equipment, noting, “When merchants’ goods are unloaded in customs warehouses, it is the responsibility of customs officials to process and return them to the merchants. Unfortunately, due to certain issues and the unavailability of firefighting equipment, significant damage was incurred. Had firefighting equipment been available at the onset of the fire, the likelihood of containing it would have been much higher.”
Merchants have also expressed frustration that, three days after the incident, the cause of the fire has yet to be determined. They are calling on the Taliban government to promptly investigate the cause of the fire and share their findings with the public. Additionally, the merchants are demanding that the Taliban compensate those whose goods were destroyed in the customs fire. The Taliban have not yet issued a statement on this matter. However, it seems unlikely that the group will offer compensation, given their past record of failing to address similar issues or provide restitution.
