80pc of small factories cease functioning in Paktika

GARDEZ (Pajhwok):  Eighty percent small factories have been closed in southeastern Paktika province due to lack of raw material and economic problems, rendering 2000 people jobless, owners say.

They say closures of border crossings with neighbouring countries and banks’ related problems have also affected their business.

Hayat Khan, who owns a small factory, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Banks do not give money and workers demand money from us, where do we find money; we have no option but close our business.”

He said 18 people worked in his factory, which he closed about 20 days ago and now he and the rest of workers were jobless.

He said the government should ask banks to give money to business people in order they could resume their business and create jobs for people.

Dost Mohammad, who owns an electricity cables making factory, said he would bring raw material from other countries but had not been able to do so during the past three months.

“Roads are closed, customs duty has been increased and banks do not give money, we lack money to buy raw materials,” he said.

He said keeping in mind electricity bill, shop rent, wages of workers and other expenses, it was better to close his business to avoid losses.

Dost Mohammad said if the same situation continued, more factories would be closed and more people would become jobless.

Paktika chamber of industry and mining says in the past three months most of factories were closed due to lack of raw materials and import of low quality goods from abroad.

The chamber president, Fazluddin Jalalzai, said 80 percent of 200 factories had stopped functioning in the province.

He said he had shared their problems with the relevant authorities who had assured efforts at resolving their problems.

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