12 Jun 2021 - 19:53
MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Due to ongoing insecurity, a number of heritage sites and monuments are on the verge of destruction in northern Balkh province, officials, provincial council members and cultural figures say.
Sham Mohammad Hakim, director of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Authority in Mazar-i-Sharif, told Pajhwok Afghan News that some archeological sites in Balkh were under serious threat of destruction.
He said many historic monuments were damaged due to negligence of the warring sides. “It is unfortunate that in some places our ancient assets are being used as battlefields, for example, the Afghan forces have set up a coordination center at the historic Bala Hissar fort in Balkh, ” he said.
21 Apr 2021 - 11:24
MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Gypsum is illegally extracted from mines located in Chamtal district of northern Balkh province by local people and a number of companies, causing the government 25 million afghanis loss each year.
Gypsum mines are located in Chamtal, Khulm and Marmal districts of Balkh province but the mineral is illegally extracted from the ones in Chamtal and Khulm.
Pajhwok Afghan News findings show people use explosives to extract the mineral such as ‘dynamite’ which local officials term as dangerous for environment.
According to local people, the gypsum mines in Chamtal district are under the Taliban control while the ones in Khulm district are under the government’s control.