Around 15,000 Youth Gain Employment Through Gemstone Mining Expansion in Panjshir

Local officials in Panjshir province report that with the expansion of precious stone mining, nearly 15,000 young people have gained direct and indirect employment. A significant portion of these individuals are residents of Panjshir who are involved in various extraction and trading areas.

Saifuddin Latun, spokesperson for the Panjshir governor, stated that currently about 1,000 young people are directly engaged in the buying and selling of gemstones, especially emeralds. He added that the sale of emeralds through auctions and their supply to Kabul markets and some external markets has generated income for those active in this sector.

According to this Taliban administration official, 16 types of mines have been surveyed in Panjshir so far, with the extraction of beryls, emeralds, and several other precious minerals actively underway. He emphasized that approximately 40 percent of the workers in this sector earn a monthly salary ranging between 6,000 to 10,000 Afghanis.

These statements were made during a meeting of the Panjshir Mines Protection Committee. Haji Hafiz Mohammad Agha Hakim, the governor of Panjshir, stressed the importance of “regulated and transparent” mining extraction and said the Taliban administration seeks to strengthen the local economy by promoting self-sufficiency among families and providing employment opportunities for the youth.

However, a number of economic experts consistently emphasize the need for greater transparency in contracts, strict monitoring of mining revenues, and assurance of their proper use in local area development—an issue that has remained a significant challenge in Afghanistan’s mining sector in recent years.