The extraction work of three salt mines in Faryab province, contracted to a private company for 15 years for $24 million, has commenced. 
The contracted company is expected to create job opportunities, build roads, provide welfare facilities, and establish a salt processing factory.

The total area of these projects is 14 square kilometers, and they are contracted for 15 years. The extraction from these mines is expected to reach 2,500 tons per day.

Officials from the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum have stated that Afghanistan needs 300,000 tons of salt annually, and the salt from Takhar alone is sufficient for Afghanistan for the next thousand years.

Hamayoun Afghan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, said at the commencement ceremony that illegal mining in the country has been curbed, and the environment is now conducive for investments in mining.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum stated, "We need about 300,000 tons of salt annually in the country. Most of this salt is for culinary, industrial, and animal use. Afghanistan has such vast salt resources that the salt from Takhar alone is sufficient for a thousand years."

Sohrab Osmani, the representative of the contracting company, said: "We have acquired the large and significant salt mine through an open and transparent bidding process for fifteen years."

Several local officials and religious scholars in Faryab have said the salt mining work in this province is crucial for the country's economic growth and have called for more investment and implementation of development and infrastructural projects in this province.

Abdul Ahad Fazli, the governor of Faryab, said: "We say to all traders, especially those from Faryab, that the conditions are now favorable, and you should come and invest in Afghanistan."

Some workers in Faryab have also stated that with the commencement of the salt mine extraction work, more job opportunities will be created for the youth.

Ghulam Sakhi, one of the workers, said: "My request from the Emirate is that Afghanistan has many mines; they should maintain these mines and start working on them so that people can find jobs."

With the opening of three mines, including the Maymana, Darzab, and Andkhoy salt mines, there is hope that the country's salt imports will drop to zero.