<p style="text-align: justify;">HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): An electric rickshaw and motorcycle assembling factory has been opened in western Herat province, with a 10 million US dollars investment to help reduce environmental pollution.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Gul Mohammad Ahrari, the factory’s sales manager, said at the plant’s launching ceremony that the facility was set up to produce and assemble electric rickshaws and motorcycles.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Currently, 100 people are employed at the plant, where several types of rickshaws and motorcycles are assembled daily, he added.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">According to him, the vehicles produced by the factory are energy-efficient and highly effective.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The official reiterated that their focus was to play an active role in environmental protection by expanding the use of electric vehicles.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, Nasir Amin, head of Chamber of Industries and Mines, explained that various machines were produced in the Herat’s Industrial Park and exports had improved compared to the previous years.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He said government’s support has encouraged industrial growth in the country.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">On the other hand, Maulvi Abdul Ali Muttaqi, the head of Environmental Protection Department, urged all industrialists to consider environmental protection alongside industrial growth.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He called the production of electric rickshaws a valuable step towards preserving public health and the environment.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">However, some residents complained about the excessive presence of rickshaws in the city, which, they said, caused congestion and disorder.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Abdul Qadir, a resident of Herat city, explained the large number of rickshaws has damaged the city’s beauty and created traffic problems.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">He urged traffic management authorities to study the situation and take practical measures to control rickshaw congestion.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">hz/ma</p>
