KABUL, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Construction has begun on a modern cargo truck terminal at Hairatan Junction in northern Afghanistan's Balkh province, a key infrastructure project designed to strengthen the country's transportation and logistics network, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation reported late Thursday.

Located at a strategically vital crossroads near the border with Uzbekistan, the terminal is backed by an investment of more than 850 million Afghanis (over 13.1 million U.S. dollars). Once completed, it is expected to significantly streamline cargo handling, shorten transit times, and boost cross-border trade in the region, according to the ministry's statement.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Deputy Minister Abdul Salam Haidari emphasized the government's commitment to modernizing Afghanistan's transport infrastructure.

"We are committed to expanding transportation and transit infrastructure across the country and implementing projects that ease daily operations for the public while strengthening Afghanistan's economic foundations," Haidari said. "The construction of this cargo terminal is one of those vital initiatives."

The project is part of a wider Afghan government drive to upgrade logistics facilities, encourage private sector participation in freight transport, and enhance Afghanistan's role as a regional transit hub in Central Asia. ■