The Islamic Emirate on Thursday warned that it would punish individuals who illegally extract resources from mines for sale in foreign countries.

Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum Shahabuddin Delawar said there are reports about the illegal extraction from mines in several parts of the country.

If they (who are smuggling the mines) are captured, their machines will be seized, they will be sent to Bagram or Pole Charkhi prisons and they will be strongly punished, Delawar told the business owners who gathered to bid on a contract to mine in the eastern province of Nangarhar.

At least 15 companies attended to compete for the contract of the nephrite mine.

Delawar said that the government would cancel the contract of the company tried to extract more nephrite than is determined in the contract.

Don�t try to steal even 1kg, otherwise the work will be stopped, and you will be punished. The extraction of the mines will be evaluated. Our intelligence will be watching you, he said.

The Goshta Nephrite Company was announced the winner of the contract.

A bank statement of six million Afs is needed. Many companies don�t have it, said Fazal Bari Baloch, an official of the Mines and Petroleum Ministry.

The Chamber of Industry and Mines said that the nephrite mine in Nangarhar was previously being extracted by local powerful individuals.

Those who smuggled from the mines previously were the local powerful individuals and members of the parliament, said Rahimullah Samandari, head of the Chamber of Industry and Mines.

Earlier, the government signed another contract for the nephrite mine with a mining company. The company agreed to pay over nine million Afs per ton.