ECONOMY — June 23, 2026
Contract Signed for Rehabilitation of 15-Kilometer Section of Southern Salang Highway
The project covers a 12-meter-wide road section and includes asphalt paving, five new culverts, expansion of 33 existing culverts, and a 600-meter drainage canal, with work expected to start soon.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Bakhtar News — corroborated by Omid Radio — 2 min read

The Ministry of Public Works of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan signed a contract for the basic rehabilitation of a 15-kilometer section of the Southern Salang highway.
The agreement, valued at more than 1.25 billion Afghanis, was awarded to Mobarez Barkatzai Construction and Road Building Company. The project covers the section from the Olang area toward Jabal al-Saraj on a road 12 meters wide and will feature asphalt paving.
The work includes construction of five new culverts, expansion of 33 existing culverts, and building a 600-meter drainage canal on one side of the road. Practical work is set to begin soon.
Minister of Public Works Mullah Mohammad Isa Thani said the Salang highway serves as a vital economic and transit route connecting northern provinces with Kabul. He stressed the importance of completing the project on time and according to required standards to support movement of people, commercial goods, and agricultural products.
Read the original reporting at Bakhtar News →
Reliability assessment
Two independent sources corroborate the core event of the contract signing with consistent details on location, scope, inclusions, and on-record statements by named Minister Mullah Mohammad Isa Thani. Minor variations in precision of value and contractor naming do not affect verification of the event.
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
A separate web search returned 8 matching reports. A selection:
KABUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Works has signed a contract for the reconstruction of a 15-km section of the strategic Salang highway, the country's main transport corridor linking Kabul with nine northern provinces, the ministry said on Tuesday.
Across the newsrooms
Where reports agree
- Contract signed by Ministry of Public Works for 15 km Southern Salang rehabilitation
- Value approximately 1.25 billion Afghanis
- Section from Olang to Jabal al-Saraj, 15 km long and 12 m wide, asphalt rehabilitation
- Includes five new culverts, 33 expanded culverts, and 600 m canal
- Minister Mullah Mohammad Isa Thani highlighted importance of Salang highway and need for quality/timely work
- Salang highway's role connecting northern provinces to Kabul for transport and trade
Where reports differ
- Bakhtar News names the contractor as Mobarez Barkatzai Construction and Road Building Company; Omid Radio refers only to 'a construction company'
- Bakhtar News provides the full precise contract value (1,252,783,126 Afghanis); Omid Radio rounds to 'one billion and 252 million Afghanis'
Filed by 2 outlets
Bakhtar News
Originating
Reported straight
Reported straight
Omid Radio
Reported straight
Reported straight
Filed under
Economy — Salang Highway, Ministry of Public Works, Mullah Mohammad Isa Thani, road rehabilitation, infrastructure
Spotted an error or have more on this story? Tip the desk on Telegram → or WhatsApp →.
Reader supported
Keep Ehtebar running
Every published story uses paid tools to translate reporting, compare sources, extract claims, and produce a clearer read on Afghanistan. Reader support helps keep that work independent.
€5
helps cover daily verification runs
€15
supports a week of source comparison
€50
keeps independent analysis moving
More in Economy

Kazakhstan Signs Zinc Export Contract with Afghan Company
— Reliable

Fire in Kabul's Mandawi Market Causes Eight Million Afghanis in Losses
— Reliable

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Meets with Qatari Ambassador
— Reliable

Iranian Official Says Herat-Mazar-i-Sharif Railway Will Connect Iran to Central Asia
— Reliable