Kunduz craftsmen who make cooking utensils, including pots, are struggling to make a living and have appealed to the relevant institutions to help save their sector.
These craftsmen, known for their high-quality cooking pots, say the demand for their products has declined amid the ongoing financial crisis and has resulted in disillusionment among them.
Abdul Baes, one pot maker, highlighted the need for support to sustain their businesses locally. He also said he would prefer to continue living and working in Kunduz rather than seeking work abroad.
“We need support for our business. We should work here and should not be pushed to travel to other countries. We make high-quality pots here. We had 10 workers previously. We have three now,” he said.
Abdul Aziz, another pot maker, who has been in the business for over a decade, stated that the lack of food among the local population has reduced the demand for cooking pots. He believes that with proper support, they can enhance their businesses and even export their products.
“We will improve our business if we are supported and we will be able to export our products abroad,” he added.
Daud, another craftsman, stressed the need for support from relevant institutions for local businesses in Kunduz. Without such assistance, they may be compelled to close their shops, he said.
Azimullah, another pot maker, meanwhile claimed that their products surpass the quality of imported pots.
Taliban officials in Kunduz have indicated that there are plans for establishing an industrial township in the province, which will provide some assistance to craftsmen, including those in the pot-making sector.
Habibullah Zia, the Taliban’s acting head for the industry and commerce directorate in Kunduz, stated that the approval of the industrial park is imminent, and factories and businesses will be allocated space.
In the past, under the previous government, there were plans to build an industrial park on 400 hectares of land outside Kunduz city. However, local businessmen at the time were not interested due to its remote and barren location.
