The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The Taliban’s Panjshir provincial media office reported Wednesday that the province is seeing a boost in legal emerald mining, which is helping reduce the need for young people to travel abroad for work.
Mohammad Agha Hakim, the Taliban-appointed governor of
Panjshir, said proper management of the province’s mines has created conditions
for greater self-sufficiency. He added that when Afghanistan’s resources are
properly managed, young people will no longer have to endure hardships or
exploitation abroad, nor fall victim to political or drug-related risks in
neighboring countries.
“The youth are the country’s main asset,” Hakim said,
emphasizing that the Taliban intend to harness their energy and capabilities
for national development. Legal emerald extraction, he noted, has already
helped curb migration for labor and opened new, high-income opportunities in
mining, processing, and trade.
The statement highlighted a recent auction in which 6,770
carats of emeralds were sold for 12,932,847.52 Afghanis, attracting over 100
traders under the supervision of the provincial mining committee. The growth of
the emerald sector has not only strengthened Panjshir’s local economy but has
also increased interest among international traders.
Before the Taliban came to power, Panjshir’s mines,
including emeralds, were often exploited illegally by powerful individuals. Now,
under the Taliban’s governance, legal mining has created jobs, reduced foreign
labor migration, and generated significant income through both domestic and
global trade in precious and semi-precious stones.
