Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Hedayatullah Badri, announced that a cement production contract has been signed in Logar province with a private company.

During a press conference in Kabul on Tuesday, Badri stated that the contract has a 30-year duration, and the contracting company will invest approximately $145 million into the project.

Badri explained that, once operational, the plant will produce 2,500 tons of cement daily, creating job opportunities for thousands of individuals.

“The contracting company will invest around $145 million in this project, which will have a daily production capacity of 2,500 tons of cement,” he said. “This project will also generate employment for hundreds of our fellow citizens.”

Meanwhile, the representative of the contracting company assured that work on the major project will begin on schedule and progress according to the terms of the agreement.

Wu Zeidan, the president of SAKO Afghan, stated, "We are committed to serving the Afghan people through this project, and we pledge to complete it on time, in line with the contract."

It is worth noting that since the Islamic Emirate's takeover, four major cement projects have been signed between the Ministry and the private sector, with a total investment of approximately $623 million. Currently, work on these projects is currently advancing rapidly.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has announced the release of 53 Afghan citizens from Pakistani prisons, who have now returned to Afghanistan.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry confirmed that of the 53 individuals, 45 were released individually, while 8 were members of the same family. These persons returned to Afghanistan after their release.

The ministry further noted that they entered the country through the Spin Boldak border in Kandahar province.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon are set to meet in Leningrad on Tuesday, December 24. According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s aide, the discussion will focus on military-technical cooperation and the situation in Afghanistan.

The state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Monday, December 23, that other topics of discussion will include migration, and the development of political, trade, economic, and cultural relations between Russia and Tajikistan.

This meeting comes as Tajikistan prepares to assume the presidency of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in January 2025. Russia held the presidency for 2024.

The leaders from across the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Union are set to gather for informal meetings in the same region on Wednesday and Thursday, further underscoring the importance of the discussions.