Kathmandu. Ongoing reconstruction efforts in war-torn Afghanistan have begun to create new job opportunities for local citizens. Plagued by long-running conflict, economic sanctions, unemployment and poverty, Afghanistan has recently embarked on major projects to meet economic challenges. In this connection, the construction of new cement factories has been started in Jawal and Siraj districts of the province. 

The $90 million project is seen as an important step in Afghanistan’s industrial progress. 

This is the second cement factory to be set up in Par wan province and the process of constructing a third cement factory in the same area will begin soon.The factory will have a daily production capacity of 5,000 tons and is expected to be completed within the next three years. 

The project is expected to provide direct employment to 5,000 people.Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani said the project would be amilestone for Afghanistan’s economic self-sufficiency and increased domestic production. According to him, this is not only the construction of a factory, but also an important leap in the industrial development of the country. 

Afghanistan, which currently relies heavily on imports of cement, has given priority to renovating old factories and setting up new ones.Local economic expertssaid that high unemployment rate was a big challenge for the country, saying that such industrial projects would provide job opportunities to educated and skilled human resources in the country. 

Moham ed Zahor, a local who runs a grocery shop near the project site, said the news of the establishment of the factory has added to his enthusiasm.He believes that this will reduce poverty in the region and help strengthen the country’s economy. This type of infrastructure development, launched in the midst of international isolation and economic crisis, is expected to put Afghanistan on the path to self-sufficiency.