The Taliban-run Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced Wednesday the sale of 5,014 carats of Panjshir emeralds, generating $245,050 in a recent auction attended by over 100 traders.
In its statement, the ministry specified that 90 percent of the auction’s proceeds would be allocated to the miners, with the remaining 10 percent retained by the ministry.
The emeralds, sourced from the mountainous Panjshir province, are part of an extensive operation involving approximately 500 emerald mines that employ around 10,000 people, according to the ministry.
The sale underscores the Taliban administration’s increasing reliance on Afghanistan’s natural resources as a source of revenue.
However, Afghan citizens have frequently criticized the Taliban for a lack of transparency regarding the allocation of mining and customs revenues. Additionally, some Afghans report being denied employment opportunities in the sector despite possessing the required qualifications and documentation.
