Insecurity: Hairatan port sees 50pc drop in imports

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Import and export activities have reduced by 50 percent at Hairatan port due to recent conflict in northern Balkh province.

Hairatan is one of the country’s important commercial and transit ports which connects Afghanistan to Central Asia and China.

Naseer Ahmad Qasimi, director of chamber of commerce department of Blakh, in an exclusive interview told Pajhwok Afghan News the investment had reduced unprecedentedly due to insecurity in the country.

Qasimi said the port was functional but there was 50 percent decrease in transactions.

“Three months ago, an average of 250 wagons of commercial goods would be imported into the country through the port of Hairatan, but unfortunately this number is now 100 to 120 wagons a day,” the official said.

The recent insecurity and fighting has led to the collapse of some districts and the loss of control of some highways, making it difficult for the government to collect tax and deliver goods to the cities.

The executive director of the department said as if the security situation further deteriorated, imports and exports at the port would fall further.

He called on the government to pay more attention to the security of Hairatan and the safety of traders.

According to Qasimi, in addition to the decline in imports and exports through the Hairatan port, the level of investment in Balkh province has also dropped dramatically.

He hoped that the conflict would end soon. According to him, the traders are committed to continuing their activities despite all the problems.

Qasimi said the businessmen were ready to invest millions of dollars once the security situation improved.

Sa/ma