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The importation of equipment and
heavy machinery has increased the
Government's need for foreign currency
and made it necessary to secure help both
internally and from larger States. The
recently passed Foreign Capital Invest-
ment Law invited fresh foreign capital
into the country for use in various fields.
In the field of mines the salt and lapis
lazuli mines have been worked for many
years. Coal is now being mined in
Afghanistan. What has recently attracted
the attention of the Ministry of Mines,
however, is the search for oil, since
experimental oil wells drilled in the
northern parts of the country have proved
the existence of substantial quantities of
oil in Afghanistan. The Ministry has
recently undertaken a general survey of
the country's mines and the preparation
of a geological charting of Afghanistan.
Since its inception the Ministry of
Agriculture has undertaken to extend
forest land and encourage reafforestation;
to foster improved breeds of cattle and
domestic fowl; to prepare experimental
farms and to bring in and introduce
simple agricultural equipment and
artificial fertilisers. It has also perse-
veringly fought plant and animal diseases
in all parts of the country. Various
plants such as cotton, jute, flax, beets,
etc., too have been introduced into
different regions, thus furthering indus-
trial development. The Helmand Valley
Development Project is one of the
greatest agricultural projects to date, for
when it is completed around half a
million jiribs (250,000 acres) of land in
south-west Afghanistan, now barren, will
come under cultivation; whereupon this
part of the country will resume its historic
importance. A considerable number of
nomads have already settled in the
Helmand Valley.
The Ministry of Public Works, with a
view to encouraging agriculture, trade
and industry, has been responsible for the
construction and repair of roads, dams
and canals. Several modern river dams
have been built, a result of the expansion
of trade between Afghanistan and her
northern neighbour, the Soviet Union.
The same forward-moving trends can
be seen in other means of communication.
The number of wireless sets and tele-
phones imported annually is going up,
and to-day Afghanistan can contact
practically any country in the world
within a matter of minutes. The
inauguration of the Afghan Ariana Air-
lines was another important step forward
in the transport of cargoes both human
and material. Where east-west air traffic
is concerned moreover, the country
benefits from its unique position in the
heart of Asia. The economy involved in
the use of this short route has led the
Government to approve the building of
an international airport at Kandahar.
When it is finished, this airport will be
able to accept jet aircraft and serve a
great purpose in international communi-
cations. Through this and the Kabul
Airport—also modern and nearing com-
pletion—Afghanistan will be connected
by air with all parts of the world.
To-day there are a number of transport
companies serving the nation and some
new banks have been founded. The
Agricultural and Cottage Industries
Bank, the Commercial Bank and the
Industrial Cassette are examples of these.
The Government's Monopolies Depart-
ment is another organisation which plays
a significant part in the country's
economic undertakings. By monopolising
the import of sugar, petroleum and motor
vehicles it has carefully organised their
distribution and kept prices from soaring.
To prevent a serious shortage of wheat
and a rise in the cost of this most impor-
tant crop, the Government has built two
large, modern silos. These improvements
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Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.