The Deputy Foreign Minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, called on the Afghan traders in Pakistan to shift their investments to Afghanistan.

Speaking to a gathering in Logar province, Stanikzai once again urged the traders to play their role in the improvement of the country’s economy.

“They are now saying to expel illegal refugees, but they are planning to expel all refugees under any title in a short time. So, it is better that our brothers who have factories, malls, and markets there [Pakistan] and are giving tens of millions of taxes to the Pakistan government, come back,” he said.

“The Islamic Emirate, particularly the sectorial institutions such as the Ministry of Economy, is trying to provide facilities for the national and international organization,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister of Economy.

But the traders in an interview with TOLOnews said that they should be provided with facilities.

“We want to be provided with facilities. We should have industrial parks in Khost, Paktia and Logar,” said Mohammad Younus Momand, deputy head of Afghanistan's Chamber of Commerce and Investment.

Stanikzai also stressed the importance of education for men and women and called it obligatory for both.

He called on the Islamic Emirate’s department to pave the way for the girls to return to their schools and universities as soon as possible.

“Education is obligatory for men and women. The doors of the schools and universities are opened but we call on the relevant officials of the Islamic Emirate to further reopen these doors,” he said.

The girls students above grade six have been deprived of their schools for more than 800 days now after the Islamic Emirate closed secondary and high schools for girls.
In September 2022, the Islamic Emirate in a decree closed all female universities.