The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced that in order to implement several infrastructure projects in the country, it has granted contracts for nearly 20 mines to various companies.

According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Homayoun Afghan, the mines include gold, coal, lead and zinc, chromite, and nephrite, and have been contracted to help fund projects such as the Qosh Tepa Canal.

Some road construction and dam-building projects are also being financed through revenues generated from these mines.

The ministry spokesperson said: “Around 20 mines containing various minerals, especially lead and zinc, gold, and chromite have been granted in exchange for infrastructure and public-interest projects, with their revenues allocated to several initiatives.”

Given the reduction in international aid to Afghanistan and the uncertain status of some projects, experts consider allocating mining revenues for infrastructure development as a vital step toward economic growth.

Economic analyst Abdul Nasir Rashtia told TOLOnews: “Every active project creates jobs, and if the country's mines are contracted and used to fund developmental and infrastructure initiatives, this plan will undoubtedly build the nation’s foundations and generate sustainable and legitimate income for the people.”

Meanwhile, the revenue of the extraction of coal from the Balkhab region in Sar-e Pol province has also been allocated to the state-owned National Development Company to fund the construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal.