Special market for returnees opens in Jalalabad

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The Department of Labour and Social Affairs has constructed a special market named “Refugee Bazaar” in the capital of eastern Nangarhar province to create job opportunities for returnees.

Labour and Social Affairs Director Maulvi Faridullah Haqqani told Pajhwok Afghan News the market had been built with financial support from the Gulbahar Charity Foundation.

He said his department registered daily members of returning families, who had the capacity to work and possessed technical and vocational skills, at the Torkham crossing — an exercise aimed at providing them with employment opportunities.

He assured the returnees would be given all necessary facilities in line with directives from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) supreme leader.

He explained the market had 11 shops of fabrics, footwear and other items. More returnees would get jobs in the near future, he promised.

Elyas Totakhel, head of the Gulbahar Charity Foundation, said the initiative was not temporary and efforts were underway to provide employment opportunities for more returnees in the area.

Rahmat Wali, who ran a footwear business in Pakistan, and has been allotted a shop in the market. He said he would strive to increase his business to reduce locals’ reliance on imported goods.

Last week, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 128,000 Afghans had returned to their homeland from Pakistan in 42 days.

kk/mud