KABUL - The European Union (EU) has urged the government of Afghanistan to take immediate action to stop illegal mining in the country, a statement from the EU mission in Kabul said on Saturday.
EU has suggested the Afghan government to appoint a capable and trusted Minister of Mines & Petroleum to revitalise and empower the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to normalize the mining sector.
They asked the government to make sure that the money from existing mining licenses was paid into a single -transparent ­government account.
Existing mining companies and operations must start sharing their revenue with the Afghan people. Companies that do not pay their taxes voluntarily should have their licences revoked.
For ensured transparency in the vital mining sector the EU mission asked to Re-examine all mining licences that do not produce income for the Afghan Government.
In addition it suggested to ensure control over the largest and most active mining operations, where illegal mining was taking place – like the Lapis Lazuli mine in Sar-e-Sang.
Last week the EU delegation in Afghanistan  launched its 2017 anti-corruption campaign which would run for seven weeks.
The seven weeks campaign would be culminated with a high-level anti-corruption conference early in May, the statement said.
The EU anti-corruption campaign will on four themes:
Natural resources and stability – the threat of illegal mining,
Corruption in the judicial sector
Prevention of Corruption
Corruption in the security sector
Zabihullah Sarwari, spokesman for the Ministry of Mines and Petroluem, said they would consider suggestion made by the EU.
He said the ministry was effectively coordinating with the government to chalk out a proper strategy to implement the suggestion made by the EU.(Pajhwok)