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Five-year plan in place to produce electricity locally: IEA
The Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) says in order to solve the electricity supply problems in Afghanistan, the ministry has prioritized energy-generating projects and drawn up a five-year plan.
The spokesman for the ministry, Qari Matiullah, said that construction of Sarobi Phase-II and Bagh Dara hydro-electric dams are also included in the five-year plan.
Matiullah said that the survey and mapping of Sarobi Phase-II dam has also been completed.
“The total cost of Sarobi Phase-II dam is estimated at $300 million and it will have the capacity to produce 180 megawatts of electricity,” said Matiullah.
“We have a five-year plan to produce energy from domestic sources. For example, the Bagh Dara dam, Sarobi Phase-II dam, and the Naghlu solar power project.”
Members of the private sector meanwhile say economic development in the country is not possible without electricity and that the ministry should increase efforts to develop electricity production in Afghanistan.
“Energy and electricity are important pillars in industry, production, trade, agriculture and still in our normal life; without energy, the country cannot be prosperous,” said Khanjan Alokozai, a member of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI).
In addition, economic experts also believe that the construction of hydro-electric dams will help Afghanistan attain self-sufficiency in terms of energy supply and free it from the need to purchase electricity from neighboring countries.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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