Afghanistan completes 370 State-funded projects in one year

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Apr 2025 18:24

Most of the projects focused on infrastructure and were said to have generated thousands of jobs.

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Afghan workers work to rebuild the house for survivors in Zinda Jan district, of Herat province, in western Afghanistan, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, after it was destroyed by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Oct. 7, 2023 (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

The Afghan Economy Ministry announced on Saturday that 370 development projects were carried out across the country during the Afghan calendar year 1403, which ended on March 20. All of the projects, according to officials, were funded by the national budget, with no reliance on foreign aid.

"In 1403, 370 national development projects were financed from domestic revenues in the state budget, as well as from the special development budget of the Islamic Emirate," said Abdul Rahman Habib, spokesperson for the ministry.

Most of the projects focused on infrastructure and were said to have generated thousands of jobs. However, residents in several major cities have expressed skepticism. As reported by Tolo News, while some welcome the attention to development, many continue to live under severe economic pressure, with poverty and joblessness still dominant in urban areas.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over half the Afghan population remains unable to meet basic needs and urgently requires humanitarian assistance.

Although the Taliban government remains under Western sanctions and lacks formal recognition, it has sought to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties with Russia, China, Iran, and regional powers. These relationships have allowed the Islamic Emirate to access alternative markets, attract limited investment, and sidestep the impact of global isolation.

China, in particular, has ramped up engagement through Belt and Road-related infrastructure discussions and mining interests, including in lithium and rare earth minerals. Russia, too, has maintained communication and trade channels, offering political support and, at times, fuel supplies.

Some analysts argue that this slow pivot eastward, combined with partial sanctions relief in certain sectors, may be helping to stabilize internal revenue collection and fund localized development. However, the gains remain uneven, and the economic situation for ordinary Afghans continues to deteriorate due to rising food prices, limited job creation, and ongoing drought conditions in parts of the country.