Business
Pashdan dam inaugurated, marking a milestone in Afghanistan’s economic development
Abdul Latif Mansoor, the Minister of Water and Energy, wrote on his X page that this dam was constructed at a cost of $117 million dollars from the country’s national budget.
In a significant step toward bolstering Afghanistan’s water management and agricultural infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, on August 14, 2025 – officially inaugurated the Pashdan Dam in Karukh District of Herat Province.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy PM Baradar highlighted that the inauguration coincides with the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s return to power—a period he described as marked by substantial achievements in implementing Islamic Sharia and advancing political and economic priorities.
“Last year, I pledged that the Islamic Emirate would complete the remaining works of the Pashdan Dam with full capacity. Today, I am proud to say that promise has been fulfilled,” he stated.
The Deputy PM emphasized the strategic importance of the dam for Herat Province, noting its potential to mitigate drought, support local farmers, and strengthen food security. He underscored that past occupations had left Afghanistan’s economy stagnant and heavily reliant on conditional foreign aid, but the Islamic Emirate is committed to building a self-reliant national economy.
Baradar also stressed that the Islamic Emirate supports both national and regional economic projects, citing the progress of the TAPI gas pipeline project in Herat as an example of fostering regional cooperation and stability. He reiterated the government’s policy of prudent natural resource management, ensuring respect for the rights of neighboring nations while using water resources to reduce poverty, unemployment, and migration.
Calling on investors, both domestic and international, the Deputy PM encouraged capital inflows not only into water and agriculture but also into other key economic sectors.
The Pashdan Dam project, now fully operational, boasts the capacity to store 54 million cubic meters of water, irrigate 13,000 hectares of agricultural land, and produce two megawatts of electricity, creating thousands of job opportunities.
Concluding his remarks, Deputy PM Baradar congratulated the Afghan people and expressed gratitude to government officials, engineers, technical staff, and laborers whose collective efforts made the project’s completion possible.
Abdul Latif Mansoor, the Minister of Water and Energy, wrote on his X page that this dam was constructed at a cost of $117 million dollars from the country’s national budget.