Kandahar Factory Boosts Output After Halt in Pakistan Trade

Following the closure of trade routes with Pakistan, domestic production in Kandahar has increased significantly.

Officials at a local spice factory in Kandahar say their daily production has risen from one ton to six tons.

Karimullah Hakimi, the factory’s director, said: “There has been close to $1 million invested here, and we’ve created jobs for 20 people.”

The factory’s products are now being distributed to 34 provinces across Afghanistan.

Workers say they process natural herbs and spices and present them to the market in standardized packaging.

Nazir Ahmad, one of the workers, said: “We produce all kinds of spices here, all pure and 100% natural. This investment has created jobs for many youth.”

Another worker, Abdul Wahid, added: “All the materials are natural, processed here and then taken to market.”

Officials from Kandahar’s Chamber of Mines and Industry also noted a rise in production at the province’s industrial park and greater public interest in local goods after the trade routes with Pakistan were closed.

Sayed Sarwar Amani, head of the Kandahar Chamber of Mines and Industry, said: “Since the border closures with Pakistan, our production has increased, and people’s mindset has shifted, they now prioritize local products.”

As imports from Pakistan have decreased, Kandahar is increasingly meeting its needs through domestic production.