Herat’s Islam Qala Customs has resumed operation a week after a massive fire eruption devastated the customs complex inflicting a huge financial loss worth around 100 million US dollars, according to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
After the fire eruption in the customs parking complex, merchandise transportation was stopped back and forth to Iran for a few days, Fawad Ahmadi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, told Kabul Now today, Saturday, February 20.
On Saturday, February 13, a huge fire erupted in Islam Qala customs devastating around 300 trucks and oil tankers worth tens of millions of dollars, according to local authorities.
Later, it was revealed that the country’s most rush customs complex lacked a fire-fighting system to respond timely and adequately to such emergency incidents.
Initial findings by a delegation composed of representatives from the Afghan private sector, the Chamber of Investment and Commerce, and Herat MPs corruption and lack of required infrastructures in the customs office were believed to be the main factors behind the huge fire.
Simultaneous with a nationwide strike by transportation companies, the fire eruption caused a huge rise in prices of basic materials in the country, particularly in the capital Kabul. The price of one Kilo liquid gas raised from 55 afghanis to 120 afghanis.
