Paktia: 500m afs pine nut processing plant set up

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A private company has established a pine nuts processing plant worth 500 million afghanis in Gardez, the capital of southeastern Paktia province.

The project is a joint venture between Israntas and Rahim Gardezi Company and its initial stage will be completed in two months.

Mahbobullah Gardezi, head of the Israntas Compnay, while laying the foundation stone of the processing plant, said 60,000 tons of pine nuts would be processed in the plant annually.

Around 1,000 people would get direct and thousands of others indirect jobs in the plant, he said.

“The plan and designing of the plant has been imported from Europe and has a higher international standard to get access to international market. Talks with different institutions are underway to provide the company with certificate for acknowledgement of product quality.”

Haji Mohammad Gardezi, head of Rahim Gardezi Company, said pine nut was a precious dry fruit of southeastern part of the country and it should be utilized in a way that could improve economic condition of people.

Abdul Nasir Alamyar, head of Paktia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it was the biggest private investment in pine nut processing and demanded a complete ban on smuggling of pine nuts.

Governor Shamim Khan Katawazai also termed investment of the private sector in pine nuts processing as vital and pledged full cooperation with the private sector and efforts to stop smuggling of pine nuts.

nh/ma