By Naqib Ahmad Hamidi
Throughout its long history, Afghanistan has remained a land defined by hard work, resilience, and perseverance. Yet, regrettably, decades of occupation and foreign aggression inflicted deep and lasting damage across every sector of the country. Among the most severely affected was the industrial sector, which suffered prolonged neglect and destruction. Today, however, by the grace of Allah Almighty, Afghanistan has reached a moment of relative calm. This new phase has created an opportunity for the nation to stand on its own feet, enabling its people to meet their needs through their own labor rather than dependence on others. Strengthening domestic industry is no longer a choice but a necessity, one that can serve as a dependable pillar of the national economy and lay the groundwork for lasting stability.
Islam is a religion that actively encourages work, lawful earning, and productivity. Within Islamic law, earning a halal livelihood is regarded as an act of worship. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) praised the hand that earns through personal effort instead of relying on others. Domestic industry represents the practical application of this principle. It creates lawful employment opportunities, reduces unemployment, and shields society from the humiliation of dependency.
The importance of domestic industry extends beyond economics. It is also a reflection of social responsibility and collective order. Islamic thought emphasizes that the Ummah should strive to fulfill its needs through its own capabilities, thereby preserving dignity and self-respect. When production is active within a country, people are not forced into hardship to secure basic necessities. Such a condition reflects strength, balance, and social health, and it is worthy of recognition.
Recent experiences, particularly the closure of commercial crossings along the so-called Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan, have underscored the critical importance of domestic production. Had Afghanistan lacked even its modest level of local industry, and had its leadership repeated the passivity of previous administrations by delaying trade engagement and relying solely on external suppliers, market stability would have collapsed and essential goods would have become far more difficult to obtain. This experience stands as clear evidence that complete reliance on foreign imports is neither sustainable nor wise.
Domestic industry plays a vital role in job creation and provides young people with a pathway to dignified and honorable livelihoods. It is a collective responsibility to ensure that society opens doors to lawful employment rather than allowing unemployment, desperation, and social disorder to take root. Every factory, workshop, and production facility contributes directly to this shared good and strengthens the social fabric.
Afghanistan is endowed with vast and unparalleled natural resources, offering exceptional opportunities for industrial development. Raw materials for essential industries are readily available within the country. If these resources are strategically utilized to promote domestic industrial growth, the national economy will gain strength, revenue streams will expand, and sustainable development will become achievable. Every industrialist who invests effort and capital along this path plays a direct role in shaping the future of the nation.
By strengthening domestic industry and expanding production capacity, Afghanistan can move beyond merely meeting internal demand. Through exports, the country can introduce its valuable products to global markets. This progress will strengthen the national economy, improve living standards, encourage investment, and increase national revenue. When Afghan factories and production centers deliver high-quality goods, international trust will grow, commercial partnerships will deepen, and trade relations will expand. Such economic credibility will also exert a positive and direct influence on the country’s political standing and diplomatic relations.
It must also be acknowledged that the leadership of the IEA is making serious and unprecedented efforts to promote industrial growth. Measures such as facilitating investment, improving infrastructure, and supporting domestic production reflect a clear commitment to improving the livelihoods of the population and strengthening economic independence.
In conclusion, domestic industry is not merely an economic requirement for Afghanistan; it is a religious, national, and moral responsibility. Recent experiences have delivered a clear lesson: strengthening local production is the only viable path toward dignity, resilience, and stability. Each individual, according to his or her capacity, must support domestic production, encourage local industrialists, and contribute to building a society whose economy rests on lawful labor and whose future is stable, independent, and bright.