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GHAZNI CITY (SW): The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) officials believe natural herbs from a number of provinces across Afghanistan are brought to Ghazni and then ultimately smuggled to Pakistan.
It is feared if this rampant smuggling continues, Afghanistan would lose most of its natural herbs. Obaidullah Ghazniwal, director for the protection of natural resources at the provincial EPA, told Salam Watandar the province has turned into den for herbs’ smugglers. He said traffickers bring these herbs from different parts of Ghazni, Daikundi, Uruzgan, Bamyan, Badakhshan and Uruzgan provinces, and then smuggle it to Pakistan.
He added the EPA has urged the districts’ officials on a number of occasions to stop this illegal trafficking of precious herbs, but the calls have fallen on deaf ears. Ghazniwal added the Afghan farmers are receiving a tiny bit of these herbs’ actual value in the international market.
Ghulam Sakhi Zabuli, member of Ghazni provincial council, has argued that the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) has failed in utilizing the potential in this regard that has allowed the smugglers to sneak in.
A number of individuals associated with this trade informed that they have been doing this for almost two decades. They said police allow them to traffic the herbs to Pakistan against bribes. Experts believe proper management and processing of herbs can earn the government a large sum in revenues, and would also provide benefits to the farmer and the environment.
ENDS
