The Afghanistan Industries Association said Monday that the distribution of electricity to Pul-e-Charkhi Industrial Park of Kabul has dropped by 50 percent in the last two months.
The members of this association warn that if this situation continues, around 20,000 workers in the industrial park will be unemployed.
The director further stated that due to the reduction of electricity, the production of factories has decreased, hence workers currently are without work.
“43,000 people work here, if you [DABS] give us regular electricity, we promise that 100,000 people will work here for another year, but if this situation continues, DABS and the supreme economic council will be responsible for the consequences,” said Abdul Jabar Safi, the director of the Afghanistan Industries Association.
The members of this association say that with the change of leadership at DABS, the commitments of the company also changed, and promises made by the previous leadership to the industrialists were not fulfilled.
Furthermore, DABS officials say an increase in electricity consumption on one hand, and a decrease of available electricity on the other, has led to the distribution shortage.
“Electricity production in Naghlu Dam [East Kabul] has been reduced due to water shortages, and we have problems with Tajikistan also,” stated Salem Salemi, DABS Chief Operating Officer Director.
According to the Afghanistan Industries Association, only 480 of the 1,067 factories established in Pul-e-Charkhi Industrial Park are active, and the rest are shut down due to various problems, including electricity shortages.