Balkh traders warn of investment withdrawal if problems persist

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Traders on Tuesday waed of leaving northe Balkh province if their problems were not resolved on a priority basis.

During a meeting with Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) representatives, the traders raised a number of issues.

ACCI Administrative Officer Nasir Ahmad Qasimi told Pajhwok Afghan News representatives from different trade groups detailed their conces and urged solutions.

The problems of the traders in northe and northeaste zones had rapidly increased over the past two years, he acknowledged.

He said the main problems of traders included red-tape in the customs department, taxation, corruption in govement offices, lack of electricity and land plots.

One of the traders, Haji Mayel said most of their problems, including the taxation issue, were related to the central govement.

The traders could provide work opportunities for the jobless if the govement supported them, and fixed their problems with a sense of urgency, he believed.

Qasimi said that if the problems of traders were not resolved, they would be obliged to withdraw their investment from the northe zone.

myn/mud