Afghanistan’s gold rush transforms lives and landscapes in Badakhshan
Dubai: Afghanistan’s growing gold rush is transforming parts of the northeastern Badakhshan province, where heavy machinery and thousands of workers are extracting gold from mountain areas. In Shiwa, about 50 kilometres northeast of provincial capital Faizabad, dozens of excavators operate around the clock as miners search for gold. The activity has created much-needed jobs in a country where…
Afghanistan's burgeoning gold rush is reshaping parts of northeastern Badakhshan province, where heavy machinery and thousands of workers are extracting the precious metal from mountainous regions. In the town of Shiwa, situated around 50 kilometers northeast of the provincial capital Faizabad, dozens of excavators operate around the clock as miners hunt for gold.
This surge in mining activity has generated much-needed employment in a country where job opportunities are scarce. Young workers have journeyed from across Afghanistan to secure work in the mining industry, with some operating machinery, while others load trucks or work manually at the mines.
The expansion of mining is part of broader initiatives by Afghanistan's authorities to harness the country's mineral resources and boost government revenues. The World Bank has reported robust growth in Afghanistan's mining sector, with hundreds of contracts signed since 2021. However, this rapid expansion is also altering the landscape surrounding mining communities.
Some residents have voiced concerns about the impact of mining on farmland, water supplies, and grazing areas. For many workers, the gold rush represents a rare source of income in a country where employment options remain limited.
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