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Afghanistan National Standards Authority delivers annual performance report
Officials from Afghanistan National Standards Authority (ANSA) presented their annual performance report on Wednesday and said 805 standards affecting various sectors were ratified in the last solar year, 1402 (April 2023 to March 2024).
Officials said the standards set were related to cultural, economic, environmental, land, climate, and geographical domains. In addition, six codes were formulated in the fields of urban development, engineering, and the design of buildings, bridges, highways, and roads.
The Authority emphasized its successful collaboration with regional and international organizations, which led to the formulation of 105 standards, the finalization of 91 standards across various sectors, and the establishment of norms for 4,932 vehicles.
These efforts are among the most significant accomplishments of the authority in the past year, officials said.
Since the inception of the High Council of Standards, 24 standards have been ratified in areas including quality management systems, agricultural products, food, construction materials, petroleum products, textiles, leather, chemicals, and plastic derivatives.
According to the officials, over the past year, 3,787,415 tons of petroleum products, liquefied gas, and derivatives were imported through national ports, of which 128,811 tons were found to be non-compliant with established standards.
Similarly, 7,380,572 tons of construction materials were imported, with 152 tons identified as non-compliant.
ANSA is currently an active member of international organizations such as ISO, IEC, SMIIC, SARSO, and ECO RESCOM.
Over the past year, seven draft procedures and two regulations have been prepared to streamline the Authority’s operations, with finalization expected shortly.
Key priorities for the upcoming year include the formulation of 110 new standards across various sectors, strengthening coordination with international organizations in standard development, signing cooperation agreements with Turkmenistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan, issuing quality certificates, finalizing legislative drafts, monitoring the implementation of standards, and the completion of the Standard Law and Metrology Law.
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Pakistan to repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghans awaiting US resettlement
Authorities will also share verified data of the affected individuals with relevant departments to support implementation.
Pakistan will repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghan nationals currently awaiting resettlement in the United States, The Nation reported, citing official sources.
The move affects 19,973 Afghans living across Pakistan.
A federal directive will instruct provincial chief secretaries and police chiefs in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory to begin the repatriation process immediately.
Authorities will also share verified data of the affected individuals with relevant departments to support implementation.
Following the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in 2021, more than 100,000 Afghans fled to Pakistan, many of whom had worked with the US and UK governments, international organizations, or aid agencies.
Thousands have remained stranded in Pakistan for over four years while awaiting US resettlement clearance.
Prospects for relocation have dimmed amid a suspension of case processing by the US administration, according to The Nation.
Under Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), all Afghan nationals still awaiting US relocation will now be returned to Afghanistan.
Terrorist activities continue to be observed along Afghanistan borders and along the India–Pakistan–Afghanistan corridor, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on Monday.
Speaking to Russia-based media outlet TV BRICS, Lavrov pointed to ongoing concerns in the Middle East, including its Asian regions.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration with India at the United Nations to advance a global counter-terrorism convention.
Lavrov stated that while the draft convention has already been prepared, consensus on its adoption has not yet been reached.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concern about militant threats from Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has dismissed the concerns saying that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any country.
Noorullah Noori, Afghanistan’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, held a phone conversation with Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, to discuss bilateral border cooperation.
According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening border collaboration, with a particular focus on the ongoing renovation and updating of border markers. They also agreed to accelerate joint technical and legal meetings to enhance coordination.
As part of the agreement, the next meeting of senior border officials from Afghanistan and Iran is scheduled to take place in Iran in 1405 (2026–2027).
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Pakistan to repatriate nearly 20,000 Afghans awaiting US resettlement
Terrorist activities observed along Afghanistan borders, says Lavrov
Afghan border minister holds phone talks with Iran’s deputy foreign minister
OIC Kabul mission chief meets German envoy to discuss Afghanistan situation
Afghanistan–China joint market opens in Kabul
Pakistan approves re-export of stranded Afghan transit trade cargo
ATN secures broadcast rights to Carabao Cup semis across Afghanistan
Pakistan army orders evacuation of Tirah Valley, fears of mass displacement grow
Afghan traders sign deal to import pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh
Saar: Regional Problems, Opportunities, and Challenges discussed
Saar: Afghanistan’s relations and opportunities with regional countries
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