Private investment in Paktia factories reaches $250m

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Nearly 250 million afghanis have been invested in southeastern Paktia province on goods’ producing factories, employing hundreds of people, an official said on Sunday.

Abdul Naseer Alamyar, head of the Paktia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), told Pajhwok Afghan News the 250m afs investment had been made in different areas and the process was ongoing.

Inaugurating two factories --- food and garment – here, Alamyar said these factories would help generate jobs for around 100 people.

“The dairy products factory was made operational at a cost of $200,000 and this investment would further be expanded. In overall, the private sector has invested four to five million dollars in the industrial sector,” he said.

Alamyar said a large number of businessmen were interested to invest in Paktia but no one had taken practical steps due to energy crisis in the province.

“Electricity and property issue are keeping many businessmen from investment. Although the electricity issue is resolved to some extent and efforts are on to fully solve it but this needs budget and this issue should be resolved soon,” said Alamyar.

He added as many as 700 people were currently worked at these factories.

Badam Gul, one of the investors, said: “We established the factory on a piece of land in the city. If more land is provided to us in the industrial park, it will be good and we will expand our businesses.”

Another investor Momin Khan showed happiness over his business and added he had invested around $250,000.

Naqib Sarhadi, deputy head of Paktia CCI, said around 500 acres of land has been identified for Paktia Industrial Park and the master plan is also complete. He hoped practical work on the Industrial Park would be launched this year.

nh/ma