Afghan Paper Welcomes Opening of Coal Mine in West

Text of report by Afghan newspaper Pagah on 15 April

Economic problems are one of the key factors behind corruption in the country. Most of the people’s problems have either a direct or indirect connection with their poor economy, which chiefly stems from unemployment.

Therefore, launching economic and non-profit projects is an effective step to eliminate poverty. Having a good geographical location and rich minerals, Afghanistan will be able to strengthen its economic infrastructures in the future.

The opening of the Sabzak coal mine in Herat Province is good news for our compatriots, particularly in this [western] zone, for the project will need 480 workers. In addition, 180 tonnes of coals will be extracted from this mine on a daily basis, which has an effective role in the country’s industrial programmes.

We should emphasize that the government has set up a number of projects in many parts of the country after the Taleban were thrown from power, but the number of projects was very few in comparison with the aid provided by the international community. As a result, serious measures should be taken [to spend and invest the aid more efficiently]. We can see that many factories have been destroyed during the war and have not been reconstructed as yet.

On the other hand, the handover of a number of government enterprises to the private sector is another noteworthy achievement. The government has already handed over some of its factories, including the Sabzak coal mine. This is an effective step providing the government will be able to supervise the private sector’s activities very carefully.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring South Asia. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.