Iron smuggling hampers local industry: Khawaja

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghanistan Steel Mills Union on Tuesday warned the country’s steel and iron industry would collapse if unauthorized import of iron from neighboring nations was not stopped.

The Union’s Head Parwiz Khawaja told reporters here that daily up to 1,500 tons of iron tools entered the country illegally.

“If this practice is not sopped, the country’s iron producing sector will collapse. Over $500 million investment has been made in this sector and nearly 20,000 people are working in the country’s steel industry,” he said.

He said companies that import illegal iron at Islam Qala Port should submit their tax at Herat Customs Office but most of them don’t refer to the Custom Office and the iron is unloaded in Herat City.

“The fact that daily up to 1,500 tons of iron is imported illegally without paying duty, the country’s steel industry could not compete with them,” he said.

According to Khawaja, steel industry is faced with the shortage of electricity and blowing up of power pylons further hurt this sector like any other industry.

He demanded the electricity issue be resolved on permanent basis and added government officials should not ignore other vital sectors of the country’s economic engine as a result of war.

Nh/ma