MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Coal Traders’ Union in Mazar-I-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, say coal prices increased following the start of its export to Pakistan three months ago.
Traders and officials say that Pakistan previously imported coal from several other countries, but now it imports coal from Afghanistan only.
MajidZadran, head of the Balkh Coal Traders’ Union, told Pajhwok Afghan News that coal prices rose more than 100 percent in the last three months.
He said seven kilograms of coal was sold for 70 afghanis three months ago, but now it was sold for 150 afghanis.
Export of coal to Pakistan also helped many people with job opportunities, he said.
A number of traders also said that coal exports have increased to Pakistan.
Mohammad Wasiq has been involved in coal business since last six years.
He said that coal exports from Afghanistan to Pakistan have recently increased.
In the past, coal was imported to Pakistan from Southeast Africa and Indonesia, but now it is replaced with Afghanistan coal, he said.
Watandost Shirzad, another trader, said that Afghanistan coal now had a good market in Pakistan after the country stopped importing it from other countries.
Industry and Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi said that the use of coal had become limited and even stopped in many countries, but its export from Afghanistan recently increased.
Around a thousand trucks of coal move from Afghanistan to Pakistan every day, which has provided jobs for many people, he said.
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