Taliban Says Domestic Revenue Funding 534 Development Projects

DID Press: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Economy, under the Taliban, says funding for 534 development projects has been secured from domestic revenues since the start of the current fiscal year, with projects spanning agriculture, energy, water management, education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Abdul Rahman Habib, spokesman for the ministry, said 125 of the projects are new, while the remainder are carried-over projects from previous plans.

According to Habib, the projects comprise 370 construction projects, 141 service projects and 23 goods-related projects. They are expected to be implemented in areas including agriculture, livestock, energy, water management, education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Habib said implementation of the projects has created employment opportunities for thousands of people.

The Taliban has increasingly emphasized domestic revenue and economic self-reliance as Afghanistan faces continuing fiscal constraints and reduced levels of foreign assistance. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance says government revenues include customs and domestic taxation, while its Revenue Department says such revenues are used to finance public infrastructure and government services.

The Taliban’s economic authorities have also recently highlighted efforts to finance development and construction projects through domestic resources.