Truck Shortage in Herat Hampers Transport of Industrial Goods, Driving Up Prices
The Herat Chamber of Industry and Mines has announced that due to the rotation system imposed on freight trucks, the transportation of goods from the industrial park of this province to other provinces has faced serious difficulties, impacting prices in markets across the country.
Mohammad Nasser Amin, the head of the chamber, said that according to the regulations set by the Taliban administration, each province receives a separate turn for freight trucks. He explained that when there is a need to deliver goods to provinces such as Farah, Kandahar, Nangarhar, and Balkh, no trucks are available, which has led to an increase in prices of domestic products in destination markets.
Several manufacturers in Herat also emphasized that in addition to the shortage of trucks, rising freight charges have put extra pressure on producers. They say the rotation system means they have no control over the timing and method of transporting their commercial goods, which in turn has increased the final cost of products for consumers.
For more than two years, the Taliban’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has implemented a rotation system for transporting commercial goods by freight trucks. The stated aim of this policy is to ensure fairness among drivers; however, traders believe that the policy was enforced without considering market needs and the production capacity of the provinces, and its economic consequences have fallen heavily on the private sector and citizens.
Meanwhile, local officials in Herat say they have taken measures to reduce freight charges. Mohammad Yousuf Saeedi, spokesperson for the Herat governor, stated that the issue has been raised with central authorities, and freight charges are expected to decrease in the near future—a promise that manufacturers hope will be fulfilled practically and promptly.
