Aqina port revenue shoots up

MAIMANA (PAN that ended on March 21, registering a sharp increase over the previous year, an official said on Thursday.

In the previous Persian year, the port’s income worked out at 1,311 million afs, up by 57 percent, the customs department head, Shahabuddin Bawar, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Linking the revenue boost to increased trade activity and improved facilities, he said: “Afghan businessmen from different parts of the country are coming here. Better security is a major attraction for them.”

Recent development of the dry port has been because of greater attention from the government, local and international traders, said one businessman, Abdul Momin.

“I import fuel from neighbouring Turkmenistan, a lucrative and profitable business,” he said, adding there was no fuel depot at the dry port. The facility should be made available to the traders using the port, he suggested

myn/mud