21 new emerald deposits identified in Panjshir

PARAKH (Pajhwok): About 21 new emerald mining areas have been identified in Hesa-e-Awal and Paryan districts of central Panjsher province, an official said on Tuesday.

Eng. Nasratullah Kawash, a member of the mines monitoring team, told Pajhwok Afghan News these areas have been identified in Safid Chehr, Dasht-e Riwat and Khinj villages of Hesa-e Awal district and some villages in Paryan district.

He explained the Mines Department had distributed 600 emerald mining licenses, of which more than 200 mines were currently under construction and 14,000 people were working in different parts of the mines.

The Mines Department had previously announced identifying 1,700 emerald mines throughout the province.

Last year, the department collected more than 21 million afghanis in revenue from the sale of emeralds.

hz/ma