The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum (MoMP) said that, they will issue extraction licenses of precious stones in several provinces in the near future.
The spokesperson for the ministry told TOLOnews that in the near future, licenses for the extraction of precious stones, including rubies, lapis lazuli, and beryl, will be issued in the provinces of Badakhshan, Panjshir, Kabul, Nuristan, Kunar, and Laghman.
The spokesperson added that the initiation of these mining activities would also create job opportunities for tens of thousands of people.
Houmayun Afghan stated that in Panjshir alone, licenses have been issued for the extraction of 550 emerald mines, and the process of extracting rubies, lapis lazuli, and beryl has begun.
“In Kunar, Laghman, and Nuristan, a policy has been developed for the extraction of precious stones, and licenses will also be issued to them. And the extraction of precious stones will also begin in the provinces,” said Houmayun Afghan.
The Chamber of Commerce and Investment emphasizes the importance of the mines of precious stones and says that the processing of these stones should also be done domestically.
A member of the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment, Khan Jan Alokozay, told TOLOnews: “Before the Islamic Emirate, these precious stones were all smuggled, especially to the markets of Pakistan. Because they were smuggled, Afghans did not benefit from them.”
Some economic analysts also emphasize the importance of standardizing the extraction of precious stones, saying that currently, these valuable stones are often extracted in a substandard way.
“We have also worked extensively in the mines and it is clear to us that the current situation is not in our favor. The government should gradually standardize the extraction of precious stones because our current situation is substandard. Substandard in this context means that we do not have the necessary equipment and facilities,” said Muhammad Nabi Afghan, an economic analyst.
According to the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, a large center has been established in Nangarhar in the eastern zone for the sale of semi-precious stones like nephrite and chromite, and it is planned that a large market will also be established for the sale of precious stones.
