Taliban authorities return 480 tonnes of substandard cement from Hairatan port

The Taliban’s National Standards and Quality Authority said it had stopped 480 tonnes of substandard cement from entering through Hairatan port and returned the shipment to its country of origin.

According to the authority, its technical staff determined after inspecting the shipment’s quality that the imported cement did not meet the established domestic standards. Based on this assessment, the shipment was prevented from being offered in Afghanistan’s markets.

In its statement, the National Standards and Quality Authority did not identify the country of origin or the importing company. It also did not release further details, including the nature of the violation or documents related to the shipment.

The agency added that the process of inspecting and controlling the quality of imported goods at the country’s ports continues and, according to the Taliban, low-quality and substandard materials will not be allowed into the markets. Hairatan port in Balkh province is one of Afghanistan’s most important commercial crossings, and a significant share of imported goods enters the country through this route.