KABUL (SW) – Those associated with the steel industry claim iron scrap continued to be smuggled to neighbouring Pakistan despite the ban imposed on it.
Although, a decree was issued in the early days of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan banning the export of scrap iron, the traders in this sector expressed concern that the scrap was still being smuggled to neighboring countries, especially Pakistan.
Samim, a scrap metal seller, says the scrap is still being smuggled into Pakistan from Kandahar via the Spinboldak crossing and via some other provinces as well.
Meanwhile, Abdul Nasir Rashtia, president of the Association of Iron Manufacturers, said the Islamic Emirate had sent a delegation to Kandahar to assess the situation. According to him, there are about 60,000 tons of scrap iron / iron ore in Kandahar, and the traders have offered to sell that amount of scrap metal to them, but it has not been finalized yet.
The chairman of the Association of Iron Manufacturers added that the neighboring countries have a strategy that Afghanistan should not become a producer country so that raw materials can be transferred to other countries.
According to officials, there are currently 42 steel mills operating in different provinces of the country that produce aluminum materials and various items.
According to reports, tens of thousands of people are working in these factories. But smuggling of raw materials to other countries can hamper domestic production.
ENDS
