The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has stopped the illegal extraction of natural resources in 584 sites across the country, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan (MOMP) said Saturday.

AVA- According to a statement released by MOMP, the Committee to Protect the Mines has identified and stopped illegal extraction in 584 sites.
The statement further added that the Committee to Protect the Mines has been established as per the presidential decree in the light of the enforced Mines Law and is led by the Ministry of Mines and Directorate of the National Security Council, consisting of permanent and temporary members of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, and National Directorate of Security.
The main purpose of the formation of the committee is to protect and preserve the natural resources prevent illegal extraction of the mines, legalization of mines, creation of jobs, and reduction of poverty, the statement said, adding that the latest report of the committee indicates that illegal extraction works have been stopped in 584 sites.
The committee has also managed to obtain written commitments from 312 individuals who were busy in illegal extraction of mines and encourage them to sign formal contracts, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said.
The statement by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum also added that the ministry considers the protection and legal extraction of mines as its top priorities to boost economy and create jobs and has been emphasizing to halt illegal extraction works.