Business
Ring Road Connects Faryab-Badghiz-Herat Failed to be asphalted
The High way ring road which connects Faryab, Baghiz to Herat Provinces has already lost $ 200 million directly and indirectly.
Acting Minister of Finance said,” the following loss has been made due to poor management, in Ministry of public works.”
However the former Minister of public works Najeebullah Ozhan believed that the contract for the following project doesn’t meet our standards and the construction company who has been ready to accomplish the ring road construction was a thief.
Still the acting Minister of the public works has refused the following claims made.
The ring road from Qaisair district of Faryab all the way to Laman area of Herat Province lengths 233 kilo meter with the cost of $397 million supported by the Asian Development Bank its contract has been signed with joint US-Turkey construction companies (EMJV) and the project was supposed to be accomplished within 4 years by now.
This ring road is counted as one of the high way roads in Afghanistan which connects three provinces Faryab- Badghiz to Heart.
Former Minister of Public works Najeebullah Ozhan said,” the (EMJV) construction company after about one year has left the construction of the road and escaped from Afghanistan, the following company has received $107 million in advance which cashed out $12 million from its Bank account and left the country.
EMJV Company has had second hand construction companies do the rest 10% of its responsibility with the less amount of money.
Officials in Ministry of finance claimed that we have reminded the officials in Ministry of public works for such huge loss of $200 million coming from the construction phase of the ring road.
Former Minister of Public Works has rejected the claimed said,”the following construction company has come to Afghanistan to loot money related to the case the officials in Asian Development bank are involved in taking bribes.
Among those robbers, the third company named Oil International who had the responsibility of monitoring has received $30 million and deputy protection of public has gained $50million, and the second hand construction companies has spent $25 on the road construction and yet they receive their money.
Head of the road construction company Shawali said,” we have told to the deputy of the Ministry of Public works NoorGul Mangal that the EMJV responsible willing to flee from the country, he didn’t listen to our voice.”
Acting Minister of Public works Mangal though doesn’t provide clear reasons why the company left the country still speaks out about the challenges which the construction company used to tackle with, the main reason to leave the country has not been clear whether they have been frightened to death or.”
There are some documents existed that the EMJV owed several Afghan construction companies for their construction work, even this issue has been taken to the court once in awhile .
Based on the court documents the officials for the construction company (EMJV) were not permitted to leave Afghanistan but due to some mediators from Afghan Government they flee from the country.
Former Minister of Public Work Najeebullah Ozhan has said,” I have asked the EMJV and Asian development Bank Officials for the termination of the contract.
Officials in Ministry of Finance rejected his claim saying the EMJV has asked for termination of the contract because Ministry of public works doesn’t follow the condition of the contract.
This comes after that Afghanistan has been awarded as the fourth corrupted countries in the world.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, chief of Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan political party, has called for the immediate reopening of crossings along the disputed Durand Line and the regularisation of trade with Iran, warning that prolonged border restrictions are worsening economic hardship for communities on both sides.
Speaking at a public gathering in Zhob, in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, Rehman said restoring cross-border trade was essential for reviving Pakistan’s struggling economy and reducing pressure on ordinary citizens already grappling with inflation and unemployment.
He proposed the formation of a joint committee made up of tribal elders, business leaders and local representatives to help restore trade, resolve disputes and maintain stability along the border region.
Rehman also called for the establishment of special trade zones along the Durand Line to facilitate legal commerce and create employment opportunities in areas heavily dependent on cross-frontier movement.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader criticised current management policies, alleging that crossings were being opened selectively for the benefit of a small group of traders while thousands of transport workers, merchants and families continued to suffer financially from the closures.
Major crossings along the Durand Line have remained largely shut since October 11 following intense clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces and Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan that reportedly killed dozens of people on both sides.
The violence sharply escalated already strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan-based militants of carrying out cross-border attacks, claims the Afghan authorities have repeatedly denied.
The prolonged restrictions have severely disrupted trade and travel between the two countries, particularly affecting frontier provinces where local economies rely heavily on the movement of goods, fuel and agricultural products.
Traders and transport unions in both Afghanistan and Pakistan have repeatedly warned that continued closures are causing heavy financial losses and worsening shortages in some areas.
Several major international pharmaceutical companies could invest in medicine production in Afghanistan as part of growing cooperation between UN agencies and Afghan authorities, who hope to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
The development was highlighted during a meeting between Afghanistan’s Minister of Economy, Din Mohammad Hanif, and UNICEF Representative Tajudeen Oyewale, where discussions focused heavily on improving healthcare access and expanding pharmaceutical capacity.
UNICEF officials indicated that several global drug manufacturers are preparing to coordinate with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health on establishing or supporting local medicine production.
The aim is to improve the availability of essential medicines for humanitarian operations while also strengthening supply in domestic markets.
The proposed investments are expected to reduce Afghanistan’s reliance on imported pharmaceuticals and improve access to essential treatments, particularly in areas affected by economic hardship and ongoing humanitarian needs.
Alongside the pharmaceutical plans, UNICEF reaffirmed its continued commitment to humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan, including programmes addressing food insecurity, climate-related pressures, and support for returning migrants.
According to figures discussed in the meeting, $520 million has been requested from international donors to support returnees. Of this, $100 million is allocated for emergency assistance, while $420 million is intended for longer-term resettlement and reintegration support.
Afghan authorities welcomed the prospect of expanded pharmaceutical investment, with Din Mohammad Hanif stressing the importance of development cooperation, job creation, and increased international engagement to support economic stability.
Officials said strengthening the pharmaceutical sector could become a key pillar in Afghanistan’s broader efforts to improve healthcare resilience and move toward greater self-sufficiency in essential medical supplies.
Afghanistan has sharply increased imports of grain from Kazakhstan, with deliveries rising 2.3-fold between September 2025 and May 20, 2026, according to Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry.
During that period, Kazakhstan exported around 3 million tons of grain to Afghanistan, compared to 1.3 million tons in the same period a year earlier.
The increase comes as Afghanistan’s Finance Ministry said this week that wheat imports into the country have risen by 345% following changes in customs tariffs aimed at supporting domestic production. According to the ministry, tariffs on imported wheat flour were gradually increased from 5% to 8%, while duties on wheat imports were reduced to encourage local flour processing.
Officials said nearly 198,000 tons of wheat were imported during the first two months of the 1405 fiscal year, compared to 44,000 tons during the same period last year. The ministry added that the policy has helped expand operations at domestic flour factories, increase local production, and create more job opportunities.
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