Afghan industrialists return from Iran, Pakistan as Taliban offers incentives
Dozens of investors deported or returning voluntarily to Afghanistan resume production as Taliban government waives taxes and offers land
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan industrialists who had relocated to Iran and Pakistan are now returning to Afghanistan, with some resuming production and investment in key sectors of the domestic economy. The shift comes amid ongoing deportations of Afghan refugees and a new push by the Taliban-led government to incentivize private enterprise.
According to ToloNews, at least 24 industrialists have returned so far, with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce continuing to verify the documents of others seeking to relocate their operations back to Afghanistan. Most of the returnees had previously set up factories and businesses in Iran and Pakistan, ranging from plastic goods and cosmetics to electrical cables and women’s clothing.
In a bid to attract returning investors, the Taliban government has introduced several incentive measures. These include tax exemptions for five years, free residential plots, access to industrial land, customs waivers for one vehicle and industrial machinery, and additional logistical support.
The ministry said that returning investors have already begun work in sectors such as car paint, PVC piping, detergent production, and poultry feed manufacturing—industries that could boost local employment and reduce reliance on imports.
Economic analysts and business leaders say the initiative could help revive Afghanistan’s industrial base, provided that the government offers a stable and predictable environment.
Abdul Jabbar Safi, head of the Kabul Industrialists’ Union, urged the Taliban administration to go further. “The private sector is ready to support them,” he said. “But the government must make doing business easier so these investors don’t feel compelled to leave again.”
The Taliban’s strategy appears aimed at turning forced migration into an economic opportunity—hoping that returning capital and expertise can help stabilize a struggling economy under international sanctions and widespread poverty.
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