|
|
|
| 2003/09/22 |
Afghan. risks becoming 'narco-state
|
|
|
04:18:55 �.�
Kabul, Sept 22 - Afghanistan is in danger of becoming an opium-fuelled "narco-state," the international monetary fund warned in a report received here Monday.
The report, which was also released at the annual imf and world bank meetings in Dubai, found that production of opium, the raw ingredient for heroin, accounted for between 40 and 60 percent of Afghanistan's gdp.
"A dangerous potential exists for Afghanistan to progressively slide into a 'narco-state' where all legitimate institutions become penetrated by the power and wealth of (drug) traffickers," the imf said.
The report showed a 30 percent growth rate for Afghanistan's economy in the finanical year 2002-03, excluding opium production,and predicted 20 percent growth over the coming year.
|
|
|
