Taliban Review Investment Projects in Mines and Underground Market in Kabul
The economic deputy office of the Taliban prime minister’s office said in a statement that a meeting of the Interministerial Investment Committee had been held. At the meeting, a private-sector investment proposal on the exploration, extraction and processing of phosphate, copper and jasper was raised and referred to the Taliban’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum for review.
In addition, the plan to build a commercial underground market in the first district of Kabul city was also assessed. The relevant committee has been tasked with completing the project’s social and traffic studies and submitting a report.
The main concern is that decisions and reviews of major economic projects are being carried out without sufficient transparency, and without broad public participation they could have negative consequences for citizens’ lives. The Taliban administration also, instead of creating an open investment environment and guaranteeing property rights, is imposing complex administrative procedures and restrictions on the private sector.
The Interministerial Investment Committee is made up of institutions responsible for reviewing and approving economic projects and plays a key role in Afghanistan’s economic development. The commercial underground market is located in central areas of Kabul and could have a significant impact on traffic and people’s daily lives.
