Saifuddin Laton, spokesperson for the Panjshir governor, announced that the province’s expanding precious stone mining sector has generated both direct and indirect employment for approximately 15,000 individuals.
Bakhtar News Agency reports that Laton made these remarks during a Mining Protection Committee meeting, which was chaired by Provincial Governor Hafiz Mohammad Agha Hakim and attended by various local officials.
Laton noted that roughly 1,000 young locals are currently directly engaged in the trade of precious stones, mainly emeralds earning their livelihoods through domestic auction sessions and international market sales in Kabul and beyond.
He further stated that 16 distinct mineral deposits have been surveyed in Panjshir to date, with active extraction currently underway for beryl, emeralds, and various other valuable minerals.
According to Laton, around 15,000 individuals predominantly youth are involved in mining operations, with 40% earning a monthly income ranging between 6,000 and 10,000 Afghanis.
During the gathering, Governor Hakim underscored the importance of lawful and transparent mining practices, reaffirming ongoing efforts to bolster the local economy, promote family self-sufficiency, and sustain job creation.
Meanwhile, Mawlavi Mohammad Qasim Amiri, Director of Mines and Petroleum for Panjshir, confirmed that mining operations across the province have been conducted legally and transparently over the past three years.
