Taliban Authorities Begin Issuing Mining Licenses for 66 Minerals in Panjshir

Local Taliban officials in Panjshir province have announced the start of distributing extraction licenses for 66 types of minerals, including turquoise, lapis lazuli, topaz, agate, amethyst, afghanite, and green garnet. According to them, this initiative is aimed at expanding the legal extraction of precious and semi-precious stones in the province.

Officials say that with the implementation of this program, mining activities in Panjshir will develop, creating job opportunities in this sector. Panjshir, a mountainous province of Afghanistan, has long been known for its diverse precious stone mines.

However, in recent years, concerns have been raised about the transparency of mining contract processes and the management of their revenues. Experts emphasize that the Taliban administration must provide clear details about the license distribution process, the share allocated to local residents, and oversight of extraction activities to prevent illegal exploitation and misuse of public resources.

Residents of Panjshir also expect that the revenues generated from mining will lead to improvements in public services and infrastructure development in the province; a goal that depends on transparent and accountable management in the mining sector.