Panjshir’s Mining Revenue Rises with Nearly 20,000 Carats of Emeralds Extracted

Local officials in Panjshir province have announced an increase in revenue from mining activities. Since the beginning of the 1405 solar year, 19,846 carats of emeralds, valued at over 2.4 million Afghanis, have been extracted and sold.

According to these officials, the number of active mining sites in Panjshir has reached nearly 600. So far, 17 types of minerals and gemstones, including emerald, gold, and beryl, have been identified in the province.

They also stated that approximately 15,000 people are employed directly and indirectly in extraction and mining-related activities, a development the Taliban administration believes has contributed to local economic growth and the relative self-sufficiency of residents.

However, the Taliban administration has yet to provide clear details about how the revenues are managed, how the income is spent, and the mechanisms for transparent oversight of mining contracts. Experts have repeatedly emphasized that mining in Afghanistan requires a transparent framework, independent monitoring, and assurance of a fair share for local communities to prevent misuse and waste of resources.

Panjshir, a mountainous province in the northeast of the country, has been historically renowned for its emerald mines, and its mining sector is considered one of Afghanistan’s important natural assets.