The Office of the Governor of Herat announced on Tuesday that for the first time, a shipment of ten containers of batteries, of various sizes, manufactured at the local industrial park, has been exported to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

According to a statement, the batteries were dispatched in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, local officials, and industrialists.

The Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade stated that over the past four years, significant progress has been made in the industrial sector, and with the establishment of the Islamic Emirate, conditions for investment in domestic production have been created.

The Herat local administration welcomed this initiative, describing the export of domestic products as an important step in strengthening the local and national economy. It assured that providing full support to industrialists, offering necessary facilities, and creating a suitable environment for the development of production and exports remain top priorities for the administration.

The Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) on Tuesday signed a major power supply project worth over 1.8 billion afghanis with domestic firm State Corps to provide electricity to Qush Tepa and Darzab districts in northern Jawzjan province.

 The contract signing ceremony, held at the Government Information and Media Centre, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and senior government officials.

Mawlawi Abdul Rahman Rahmani, Director General of Renewable Energy at MoEW, said the $28.4 million project (equivalent to 1.886 billion afghanis) aims to ensure nearly all households in Qush Tepa and Darzab have access to electricity.

He explained that the project involves constructing an 85.4-kilometre transmission line from Shiberghan, the provincial capital, building substations, and establishing electricity distribution networks in both districts.

Alauddin Salim, representing State Corps, described the initiative as “crucial” and said it is expected to be completed within three years. He highlighted that domestic firms, like State Corps, are more committed than foreign companies to project delivery.

According to MoEW, the project will be funded through revenues from Afghanistan’s mines and will provide electricity to around 47,000 families. The ministry urged the company to ensure timely completion with high quality standards.

Prominent Pakistani religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani has strongly criticised moves to grant lifetime immunity to Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, describing such protection from judicial accountability as contrary to Islamic principles.

Speaking at a public gathering on Monday, Mufti Usmani said that Islam does not place any individual above the law, stressing that rulers, military leaders and ordinary citizens are equally accountable for their actions. He emphasised that justice and accountability form the foundation of an Islamic system, and that permanent immunity for powerful figures violates the spirit of Sharia.

The cleric warned that creating legal distinctions between state officials and the general public undermines public trust and fosters injustice within society. He urged state institutions to adhere to Islamic values when making political and military decisions, particularly those affecting governance and accountability.

Mufti Usmani’s remarks come amid growing debate in Pakistan over the role of the military in state affairs and the expanding authority granted to senior army officials. The issue has drawn heightened public and political attention in recent weeks, with critics arguing that excessive protections weaken democratic institutions and the rule of law.