The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has laid the foundation stone for the “Imam Shaqiq Balkhi (RA)” Industrial Township, covering an area of 22,000 jeribs of land in Balkh province, according to a statement issued by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Economic Affairs. Once completed, the industrial township will provide industrialists with opportunities to operate businesses, process raw materials, and produce standardized products.
The statement added that Mullah Baradar described the construction of the industrial township as a manifestation of the Afghan government’s commitment and strategic vision toward building a productive Afghanistan. He said the project would help address the shortage of industrial land in Balkh, reduce reliance on imports, and create employment opportunities for thousands of citizens.
He described Balkh as one of Afghanistan’s major commercial, transit, and industrial provinces and stressed that the Hairatan Port should not merely serve as a route for imports and ordinary transit, but should be transformed into a major transit corridor for the export of Afghanistan’s processed goods and manufactured products.
He also called on industrialists to invest in the industrial township and assured them of the necessary cooperation and facilities from the Afghan government.
