Halt to scrap smuggling boosts steel industry in Nangarhar

Officials in eastern Nangarhar province say a halt to scrap smuggling from boarder areas has helped boost the local industry.
The government cracked down on the illegal practice following complaints from industrialists and more steps would be taken to uplift the local industry, officials say.
Sher Alam Amlawal, director of Commerce and Industry, said people associated with the steel industry complained against the smuggling of scrap.
He added the smuggling recently declined and so did complaints from industrialists. Construction work on the Hesar-i-Shahi Industrial Park had been completed five years back but due to the lack of security and electricity thousands of factories had not been functioning.
He said currently 241 small and big factories were functional in Nangarhar, where around 4,000 people had been provided with work opportunities.
The items manufactured by these factories were supplied to different parts of the country and exported to Pakistan, India, the US, France and Tajikistan.
Attaullah Khogyani, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News on frequent complaints from industrialists, stringent measures had been taken to stop the smuggling of scrap.
He said the provincial government remained committed to the development of local industrialists and every problem faced by them would be resolved.
Shakirullah Sapi, spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed an end to scrap smuggling had left a positive impact on the local industry.
If the barriers faced by the local industry were removed, fast-track development and a surge would be ensured in the manufacture of local products, he thought. This would also help mitigate unemployment.
Experts believe the local industry, if strengthened, will help bring peace and stability to the country. They hope it will lessen foreign influence and pressures.