As Eid al-Fitr approaches, the dried fruit market in Herat province has thrived, with people busy purchasing Eid sweets. Families are striving to buy sweets according to their economic capabilities in preparation for this holiday.

However, this year, people’s economic situation has worsened, and they are unable to make purchases as they did in previous years.

Nevertheless, the customs and traditions of Eid compel most families to prepare for the holiday.

“Thank God, there is a lot of crowds. Sales are high. People are in the market until 1:00 AM, buying. This year, by the grace of God, prices are low, and everyone can afford to buy,” said Ayatullah Habibi, a shopkeeper in Herat.

Although dried fruit prices are cheaper this year compared to last year, many people still cannot afford to buy them.

“We are almost hopeless about our lives; there is no business, and the situation is bad,” said Ghulam Sarwar, a worker in Herat.

Meanwhile, the Herat municipality has announced the creation of a price control commission in recent days.

Herat municipality stated that dried fruit and food markets are being monitored daily by the commission members.

Meanwhile, the Union of Dried Fruit Sellers in Herat also emphasized that prices are better compared to last year.

“There is ongoing supervision in the market to ensure good quality goods and fair pricing. Any shopkeeper who sells poor-quality goods will have their shop closed,” said Abdul Ghani Qadri, the head of the Dried Fruit Sellers Union in Herat.

While many people are eagerly awaiting Eid al-Fitr, there are still many families whose primary concern is feeding their children.

وزارت معادن و پترولیم می‌گوید که در سال گذشته ۳۶ قرارداد معدنی بزرگ و کوچک را امضا کرده است که ارزش مالی آن به ۱.۳ میلیارد دالر امریکایی می‌رسد.

مسوولان این وزارت گفته‌اند که این قراردادها ۱۰ معدن بزرگ، ۲۵ معدن کوچک مشمول پروژه‌های سمنت، نمک، مرمر و قرارداد بزرگ استخراج گاز با ازبکستان بوده که با شرکت‌های داخلی و خارجی به امضا رسیده است.

در همین حال، کارشناسان امور اقتصادی افزایش سرمایه‌گذاری‌ها در بخش استخراج معادن را برای رشد اقتصادی کشور مهم دانسته و تأکید کرده‌اند که در قراردادهای معدنی باید اولویت با شرکت‌های داخلی داده شود.

کمال الدین کاکر، تحلیلگر امور اقتصادی، گفت: «بهتر این است که به سرمایه‌گذار داخلی اولویت داده شود نه خارجی»

اعضای بخش خصوصی نیز گفته‌اند که اگر شرکت‌های خارجی و سرمایه‌گذاران افغان بتوانند در بخش معادن در کشور شریک شوند، این امر علاوه بر توسعه سرمایه‌گذاری در کشور، تغییرات مثبتی را در زمینه ظرفیت سازی در بخش استخراج معادن به همراه خواهد داشت.