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More than 2,000 people die each year due to air pollution in Kabul
The Ministry of Public Health said Sunday more than 2,000 people in Kabul die every year of respiratory diseases due to air pollution.
Marking World Climate Change Week in Kabul, titled “Climate, Health and Justice”, officials said that due to air pollution, thousands of people suffer from respiratory, heart, cancer, infectious and viral diseases every year.
“Every year at least 2,287 people of Kabul die due to respiratory diseases caused by air pollution,” said Hassan Ghiasi, Deputy Minister of Public Health.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, the second deputy of the Prime Minister, meanwhile said that the government is committed to improving the situation and by preventing more pollution in the country.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is committed to creating a national policy for Afghanistan’s environmental management,” Hanafi said.
In addition, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, political deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that frequent wars in the country, deforestation and excessive use of underground water have had negative effects on the country’s environment.
“The problem that the people of Afghanistan face is not only our responsibility, but the world also has a duty to cooperate with us in this area, because the world is also responsible for the air pollution in Afghanistan,” he said.
Hafiz Aziz-ul-Rahman, the head of the Environmental Protection Department, has also noted that climate change has disrupted the social life of the people and agriculture in the country.
Sources of air pollution in Kabul meanwhile include old cars, poor quality fuel, people burning trash, industrial brick kilns, small-scale smelting plants and foundries. That’s in addition to pollution coming from bakeries, restaurants and wedding halls as well as power plants, generators, household cooking stoves and heaters.
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a 30-year agreement with a private company to extract marble in Daikundi province.
Under the contract, the company will invest AFN 283 million in exploring and mining marble at the “Mesh-Uliya” site, spanning 16.74 square kilometers in central Daikundi.
Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated that the marble will be processed domestically before being exported abroad. He added that the Mesh-Uliya project is expected to create around 200 jobs, and the company is committed to supporting local communities through social initiatives.
Economic experts highlight that such investments, especially those focusing on domestic processing, are crucial for job creation, boosting exports, and strengthening the national economy. Analysts further note that the project will improve local infrastructure, expand social services, and enhance the economic and social well-being of Daikundi residents.
Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, efforts to develop Afghanistan’s mining sector have intensified, with multiple contracts signed in areas including cement, copper, iron, and lapis lazuli, involving both domestic and international companies.
A passenger bus veered off the Salang Highway before dawn on Sunday, leaving five people dead and 44 others injured, the Ministry of Public Works said.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. in the Shawol area of North Salang when a passenger bus deviated from the main road due to the driver’s negligence.
Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said five passengers were killed and 44 others sustained injuries. He added that personnel from the Salang Maintenance and Protection Directorate promptly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the Khunjān clinic for medical treatment.
The Ministry of Public Works has urged drivers and passengers traveling on the Salang Highway to strictly follow the instructions of on-duty teams, observe traffic regulations, and carry warm clothing, food supplies, and snow chains to prevent similar incidents.
The ministry also noted that heavy snowfall and stormy weather have led to the temporary closure of the highway, while road maintenance teams are continuing snow-clearing operations.
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Major fire in Mandawi Kabul market contained, extensive losses prevented
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
The Ministry of Interior reported that personnel from the General Directorate of Firefighting and Emergency Response successfully prevented the further spread of a fire at Mandawi market on Kabul early Sunday morning.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the ministry, said that the fire destroyed 10 storage facilities and 8 shops. He added that initial losses are estimated at around $700,000, but timely action by firefighting personnel saved property worth approximately $2.2 million.
Qani explained that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He praised the rapid and effective containment operations, which prevented more extensive damage.
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
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