The Ministry of Public Works announced the resumption of the remaining reconstruction work on the Salang Highway after Eid al-Adha.

Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the ministry, told TOLOnews that the reconstruction work on this highway was halted last year due to cold weather. This year, an agreement has been reached with three domestic companies for the reconstruction of the Salang Highway.

The spokesperson said: "Due to the cold weather, the project was halted. The Ministry of Public Works has renewed the contract with three companies this year, i.e., in 1403 solar year, for the essential reconstruction of the Salang Highway."

The Salang Highway is one of the most important commercial and economic routes in the country, connecting the northern provinces to the center and playing a significant role in the transportation of commercial goods to Central Asia.

The reconstruction of this highway began in 1402 solar year by the Ministry of Public Works. This year, the concrete work inside the tunnel, the sixteenth gallery, and the third section of the highway were completed, but the reconstruction work was halted due to cold weather.

Some economic experts said the construction and reconstruction of the country's highways, especially the Salang Highway, will be impactful in terms of job creation and economic growth. They emphasize the need for standard reconstruction of highways.

Mohammad Nabi Afghan, an economic expert, said: "The work on this highway must be completed as soon as possible because it is very necessary, and through this, we can boost the country's trade and economy."

Sieyar Qurieshi, another economic expert, said: "This can improve the speed of transportation for both individuals and trucks."

Recently, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, announced during the reopening of the Salang Highway that a new tunnel will be built in the near future. He highlighted the importance of the Salang Highway's reconstruction in increasing trade volume and Afghanistan's self-sufficiency.