Islamic Emirate at a Glance

(Part 23) Summary of the Most Significant Accomplishments of the Islamic Emirate (2022 – 2023) By: H.N Enhancing Transportation Services Transportation and aviation constitute pivotal sectors for facilitating the convenient movement of citizens and travelers, with the provision of appropriate transportation services being paramount. In this regard, the Islamic Emirate has taken effective and tangible […]

(Part 23)

Summary of the Most Significant Accomplishments of the Islamic Emirate

(2022 – 2023)

By: H.N

Enhancing Transportation Services

Transportation and aviation constitute pivotal sectors for facilitating the convenient movement of citizens and travelers, with the provision of appropriate transportation services being paramount. In this regard, the Islamic Emirate has taken effective and tangible steps towards enhancing the provision of transportation services and strengthening bilateral relations with neighboring, regional, and transregional countries through the review and formulation of policies, laws, regulations, and agreements. Over the past year, numerous agreements have been signed aimed at conducting standard activities and enhancing the transportation sector in the country.

A. Aviation

With the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate, serious attention has been paid to the repair, reconstruction, and reopening of the country’s airports. The airports that were destroyed by occupiers have been repaired and made operational again. Consequently, some modern equipment, systems, facilities, and technical means of Kabul Airport have been reactivated, and flights have resumed normally.

1. Establishment of Aviation Surveillance and Security Systems

This system has been instituted to oversee aircraft documentation, airline operations, airport rehabilitation efforts, as well as aviation security and educational facilities. Furthermore, all flight checklists are seamlessly integrated into this system to facilitate flight monitoring, with supervisory personnel exercising oversight through this comprehensive framework.

In addition, this system facilitates the preparation of requisite documentation for aviation company representatives engaged in reconstruction and training endeavors, thereby engendering significant operational facilitation and improvements.

2. Training of Technical and Vocational Aviation Personnel

The country’s aviation sector, bifurcated into civil aviation traffic and non-military aviation technology, offers tuition-free enrollment to students from all 34 provinces via nationwide university entrance examinations. Over the past year, hundreds of students have been recruited and trained across technical and vocational disciplines within the national aviation domain, with the majority currently engaged in various technical and vocational capacities within the aviation sector.

3. Activation of Simulator Tower Devices

The air traffic control simulator, which simulates real flight environments and positions for students, has been activated. This device provides practical training to non-military aviation students in air traffic control. Previously managed temporarily by foreign companies at a significant cost of $70,000 annually, it has now been permanently activated without any costs due to the efforts of domestic engineers.

The air traffic control simulator device, meticulously engineered to simulate flight environments and positions for aviation trainees, has been activated. Through this sophisticated apparatus, non-military aviation trainees undergo practical training in air traffic control. Notably, this device, formerly managed on a temporary basis by foreign entities at considerable expense, with an annual operational outlay of $70,000, it has now been permanently activated without any costs due to the efforts of domestic engineering personnel.

4. Assessment of Airline Aircraft

For the first time, the Airbus A300-310 airline aircraft’s Check C20 process of Ariana Afghan Airlines, which used to take six months and cost $1.3 million, is now being conducted by Ariana Afghan Airlines’ technical and vocational team within 28 working days at approximately $200,000 in accordance with global standards under the re-established Islamic Emirate.

Similarly, in the past year, the Check-C+D process for Boeing 737, C-20, and Boeing 737-500 aircraft has been initiated and successfully completed within the country, which is considered a major achievement in the country’s aviation sector.

B. Ground Transportation

Ministry of Public Works, responsible for the preservation, protection, and reconstruction of national and regional roads and highways, funds developmental projects within the transportation sector. Following the reinstatement of the Islamic Emirate, external financiers of development and infrastructural projects have abstained from funding, exacerbating the serious challenges faced by the current government due to economic sanctions imposed on Afghanistan. Despite these obstacles and sanctions, the Islamic Emirate has achieved tangible results within the aforementioned sector over the past year, among which the most significant are as follows:

1. Reconstruction of Highways

During the past year, the Islamic Emirate has initiated the reconstruction of roads connecting the capital with northern, southern, and southwestern provinces as well as commercial ports with neighboring and regional countries nationwide. Additionally, the reconstruction of 781 kilometers of roads in various parts of the country has commenced.

Furthermore, the reconstruction work on the Kabul-Kandahar highway in 7 phases, the reconstruction of the 170-kilometer Kandahar-Uruzgan, Uruzgan-Dahrawood, and Khakrez dual roads connecting Kandahar to the north of the country, and the ongoing construction of the dual Kandahar-Helmand roads linking Kandahar to Helmand, are underway.

Moreover, the reconstruction of the Sheikh Abu Nasr Farahi port, one of the country’s most important commercial ports connecting Afghanistan to Iran through Farah province, with a length of 117 kilometers, of which 64 kilometers had been previously constructed, is currently undergoing reconstruction in its third and fourth sections.

Similarly, the construction of a 153-meter bridge in the Kandahar-Herat highway with a cost of $400,000 has begun. The construction of a 300-meter steel-concrete bridge in the Sarshila area of Nimroz province and the Baski bridge in the areas of Zabul province have been completed and put into operation, are among the most significant achievements accomplished during the past year.

2. Reconstruction of Salang Highway

Last year, the reconstruction work on the Salang highway began. This highway is one of Afghanistan’s most important transit and economic highways, connecting 4 commercial ports and 9 northern provinces to Kabul. Salang Highway, after the Qosh Tepa Canal, is the second national and economic project of the country, which, upon its reconstruction, will provide necessary transportation facilities for transferring commercial commodities from the north to the south of the country.

3. Developmental Projects

In the past year, 125 projects, totaling a value of 400 million Afghanis have been implemented, including road preservation and maintenance, bridges, footpaths, retaining walls, and protective barriers. In addition, 12,548 kilometers of roads in vulnerable areas of 34 provinces have been continuously protected and maintained, with 8,500 kilometers cleared of snow during the winter season, improving the accessibility for citizens and travelers.

4. Activation of Laboratories for Project Optimization

In order to enhance the execution and quality of projects, the Islamic Emirate has refurbished inactive laboratory machinery and equipment, resulting in the expansion of material testing capabilities from 4 to 40 types. These laboratories, operational in 5 zones across the country, conduct tests on asphalt, cement, soil, concrete, aggregates, stone, and other construction materials.

5. Activation of Weighing Stations to Prevent Overloading

To prevent the transportation of loads exceeding specified limits and to safeguard the roads, numerous weighing stations have been activated across the country. Presently, 41 weighing stations are operational in 21 provinces, with ongoing efforts to equip 24 monitoring buildings with solar power for continuous operation and control.

Continued…

Reference: IEA’s Accomplishments