PUL-I-ALAM - Chromites mines are being dug up unprofessionally by people in central Logar province, Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani said on Monday.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony for the mines department's new building in Pul-i-Alam, the minister said the chromites were smuggled abroad.

But construction of the department's new building would help improve its performance, including monitoring of the mines, Shahrani added.

Logar Governor Mohammad Iqbal Azizi and provincial council members also attended the ceremony, said the governor's spokesman, Din Mohammad.

The mines ministry funded the project that cost 12 million afghanis ($230,991) and took six months to complete. The two-storey building has 22 administrative rooms and other facilities.

Governor Azizi said 90 percent of departments in Logar had buildings. He asked the mines ministry to focus on exploiting other mines in the province. (Pajhwok)