Islamic Emirate at a Glance

(Part 6)

Summary of the Most Significant Accomplishments of the Islamic Emirate

(2022 – 2023)

By: H.N

Reforms in Affairs Pertaining to Martyrs and Disabled

The Islamic Emirate undertook a survey last year aimed at preventing the misappropriation of public funds, specifically targeting widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities. As a result, a total of 12,000 widows and orphans, alongside 7,500 ineligible disabled individuals, were identified and removed from the system. This initiative not only curbed the wastage of public funds but also ensured the protection of entitlements for eligible beneficiaries.

Furthermore, the biometric system for widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities has been extended to various provinces, with electronic systems operational in 18 provinces, including the central region. A total of 77,699 individuals have been registered biometrically over the past year, and this process continues.

Facilitating the Permitting Process in the Environmental Sector

The process of assessing manufacturing factories from an environmental perspective has been expedited, and the issuance of permits has been streamlined. Previously, the permit issuance process was complex and time-consuming, but following a review, the 10 closed and convoluted stages of permit issuance were simplified into 4 straightforward stages. This initiative was undertaken to foster an environmentally conducive atmosphere and and has resulted in encouraging more investment.

In the past year, the National Environmental Protection Agency has meticulously analyzed and progressed through the environmental and social impact assessments of 1318 developmental, infrastructural, industrial, and production projects across public and private sectors. Consequently, 1299 projects and undertakings received committee approval and were granted environmental licenses. Concurrently, 19 projects were declined due to insufficient adherence to legal prerequisites for environmental rectification and regulatory compliance.

Inspection of Drug Facilities

Over the past year, Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority has conducted monitoring and inspection of dual-use facilities, including production factories, wholesale distributors, government, and private pharmacies throughout the country. As a result, 771 dual-use facilities have been shut down, and recommendations and warnings have been issued to others. It is worth noting that as a result of these inspections, expired, illegal, suspicious, and counterfeit drugs have been seized and eliminated.

One of the achievements in this sector is the regulation of imports of health and food products, which has prevented the importation of low-quality products into the country. Another measure taken is the determination of prices for food and health products for export and domestic production to prevent price manipulation.

Significant actions in the past year include establishing 45 facilities, accrediting 5 laboratory methods, developing and formulating 40 standard operational procedures to enhance laboratory capacity, establishing and activating 3 food laboratories in different provinces, and activating solar power for the microbiology section of laboratories as part of the creation and equipping of quality control laboratories for food and health items.

The Institutionalization of Standards

The establishment and approval of standards in the country require a competent and specialized authority to take action in this regard. Therefore, the High Standards Council has been created to approve standards.

Afghanistan National Standards Authority, through the creation of this council, has undertaken fundamental work in controlling the quality of petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, and standardizing procedures with accepted norms. This has resulted in positive outcomes and notable achievements.

Standardization of Petroleum Products

The quality control process for petroleum products at the country’s central facilities and ports is conducted by specialists and experts with complete transparency. Additionally, inspections and assessments of oil pump stations, sales centers, and petroleum warehouses nationwide have commenced. Consequently, hundreds of substandard oil tanks and facilities have been shut down, and their owners have been referred to the relevant authorities.

In the past year, more than 100,000 oil tankers, petroleum products, and their derivatives have been imported through ports such as Islam Qala, Torkham, Farah, Nimroz, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Shir Khan, Herat, and Aqina. Among these, over 2,000 oil tankers were rejected due to low quality and failure to comply with international standards, and were subsequently returned.

Establishment of Mobile Laboratories

In order to standardize petroleum products, mobile laboratories have been established in the provinces of Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Farah, Nangarhar, and Helmand to oversee pump stations and oil reserves at six ports across the country, including the central region. Over the past year, a total of 1,000 fuel stations and reservoirs in these provinces have been inspected, resulting in the identification and subsequent closure of 270 non-standard fuel pump stations and reservoirs.

Standardization of Construction Materials

The process of controlling the quality of construction materials at all ports, including the central port, has been conducted by specialized and professional individuals with the aim of standardizing the iron melting, rebar fabrication, rebar sales, and other construction material processes.

In addition to the central port, quality control procedures for construction cargoes have been implemented at Islam Qala, Herat, and Nangarhar ports, resulting in the certification of 47,000 quality-assured construction cargoes over the past year.

Furthermore, oversight has been carried out on the production and manufacturing of rebar, iron, and construction materials in provinces such as Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat, Kandahar, and Kabul. Manufacturing factories and sales centers of rebar and construction materials in these provinces have been examined, and necessary recommendations have been provided to the owners for compliance with standards.

It is noteworthy that, to enhance standardization in the country, operational procedures have been developed for activating electrical equipment laboratories, food testing laboratories, quality control laboratories, pricing regulations, and manuals in this sector.

Consumption Standards

Determining and assessing the consumption levels of transportation fuels, machinery, power generators, and government office supplies nationwide has been an important aspect of standardization efforts. Over the past year, approximately 2,000 different items have been calibrated according to accepted standards.

It should be noted that, following the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate and as a result of efforts in the development of a culture of standardization in the country, the quality of food, petroleum, and construction materials has significantly increased compared to the past.

Continued…