Taliban on Thursday inaugurated the Pashdan Dam in Herat province in a ceremony attended by Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister for economic affairs, calling the project vital for the region.
The dam is located about 25 kilometers northeast of Herat city, in Karukh district. Taliban Minister of Energy and Water Abdul Latif Mansoor said the project cost $117 million, funded from the national budget. The dam will store about 54 million cubic meters of water, irrigate 13,000 hectares of land and generate about 2 megawatts of electricity, he said.
Construction began in 2011 under the previous government and was intended to be completed within three years, but work was halted for various reasons in recent years.
Baradar said the project would help reduce drought impacts in Herat and address farmers’ problems. “Last year, when we resumed the remaining work on this project, I promised you that the Islamic Emirate would put all its efforts into completing it. Fortunately, today the remaining work is finished,” he said.
He added that the Taliban aim to use the country’s natural resources responsibly, manage water effectively, and respect the rights of others. “Our goal in water management is to strengthen the country’s economy, which we consider essential to reducing poverty, unemployment and migration,” Baradar said.
He also called on domestic and foreign investors to take advantage of opportunities in not only water and agriculture but also other sectors.
According to Taliban officials, the dam’s operations will provide irrigation, power generation and “thousands” of jobs to residents in the area.
