Salt Producers Call for Government Support to Boost Exports

Officials of salt processing and production factories in Balkh emphasize the need for standardized extraction of the country’s salt mines and say all salt mines should be handed over to these factories.

They add that active salt factories in Balkh alone can meet the country’s needs, and if the Islamic Emirate supports them, salt exports to foreign countries could also begin.

Ghulam Rasool Malakzai, an official at a salt production and processing factory, said: “Salt factories in Balkh can meet the country’s total demand. Efforts are ongoing, and our salt is of good quality.”

In Balkh, salt factories have also created job opportunities for many young people.

A factory worker, Muzaffar, said: “We call on the government to support salt factories in Afghanistan and provide job opportunities for young people. We also urge young people not to go abroad and to work in their own country.”

Another worker, Mohammad Aref, said: “We ask traders to invest in the country, as security has improved and peace has been established, and to create job opportunities for young people.”

Officials from the Balkh Chamber of Industries and Mines say around five large, standardized salt factories are operating in the province, and that Afghanistan’s salt production and processing centers have the capacity to produce more than 350,000 tons annually.

Imamuddin Sanaizadeh, head of the Balkh Chamber of Industries and Mines, said: “There are 5 to 6 salt factories operating in Balkh, which both wash and refine salt. Currently, we supply salt to all provinces, and Afghanistan is self-sufficient in salt production.”

Afghanistan has vast salt reserves, with mines identified so far in the provinces of Takhar, Samangan, Balkh, Faryab, Ghor, Herat, Ghazni, Paktia, Kandahar, and Parwan.