Fresh Emerald Sales in Panjshir Spark Plans to Exploit 17 More Gemstones

Local officials in Panjshir province announced that 11,842 carats of emeralds extracted from the region’s mines were recently sold in a tender to domestic traders for 477,360 Afghanis. According to the provided information, 10 percent of the revenue from this sale will be transferred to the Taliban administration’s treasury.

Saifuddin Latoun, spokesperson for the Panjshir provincial authority, stated that the income from these emerald sales paves the way for the extraction and exploitation of 17 other types of gemstones, including rubies. He did not provide further details regarding the contracts or the specific use of the revenues.

Panjshir is among Afghanistan’s well-known provinces for precious stones, especially emeralds, and its mines have been a significant source of local income in recent years. However, experts have consistently emphasized the need for transparency in mine management and revenue utilization.

While the Taliban administration cites increased mining activities as part of its economic programs, the lack of public reporting and clear oversight mechanisms regarding the use of mining revenues remains a concern among residents and economic experts.