Zakria Sadeq Moradi (R), founder of Max Garment Factory, talks with a worker at Max Garment Factory in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 4, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
KABUL, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- In a quiet corner of Kabul, where many people rise each day under the suffocating weight of unemployment, the steady hum of Afghanistan's largest garment factory forms a rare symphony of hope, with its relentless needles weaving not just fabric, but dignity, sustenance, and the fragile dreams of families fighting to survive.
At the heart of this beacon stands Zakria Sadeq Moradi, founder of Max Garment Factory, whose vision transcends mere production.
"The driving motivation and core idea behind this initiative is to create employment opportunities for Afghan youth, while elevating the quality of domestically produced garments and expanding meaningful job opportunities for women across the country," Moradi told Xinhua.
Here, more than 2,000 men and women work across grueling shifts, keeping the heartbeat of the factory alive. Among them, 120 women defy traditional barriers, with their hands transforming imported threads into symbols of empowerment.
All the factory's state-of-the-art machinery and raw materials come from China, a partnership that Moradi praises effusively. "We are fully satisfied with the quality of the materials," he says. "Our suppliers provide the finest products at the lowest prices, not only to us, but also to clients across the world, a factor that has significantly contributed to China's remarkable progress."
Daily shipments flow in from China's bustling textile hubs in provinces such as Fujian and Zhejiang, fueling an operation that proudly emulates Chinese efficiency.
"In our business, we draw substantial inspiration from Chinese companies and closely emulate their methods and practices," Moradi explains, highlighting how this cross-border collaboration is breathing life into Afghanistan's fledgling industry.
For many, the factory is a lifeline pulled from the depths of despair. Take Ramin Hasili, the sole breadwinner for a family of seven, endured endless months of joblessness before finding solace amid the whirring looms.
"I work in the stitching and production department, earning a monthly income of between 30,000 and 40,000 afghanis (450 to 600 U.S. dollars). I am truly overjoyed that such high-quality products are now being manufactured in our own country," Hasili told Xinhua.
His pride extends to the source: "The finest garments we produce here are made using fabrics and materials imported from our friendly neighboring country (China). It is a tremendous source of pride for us to have such a nation as our neighbor."
Yet, the factory's impact runs deeper, touching the most vulnerable. Beyond its core workforce, it hosts heartfelt vocational training programs, offering free sewing workshops to dozens of underprivileged children.
These young souls, often from families shattered by poverty, transform their childhood curiosities into lifelong careers after being hired as apprentices.
In a country where youth unemployment hovers at nearly one in four, according to a recent World Bank report, such initiatives are nothing short of revolutionary.
Ali Sajjad Lalai, a 24-year-old who has spent the past year in the production line, embodies this quiet revolution. Content and optimistic, he dreams of a ripple effect: "I offer my deepest gratitude to the factory owner for creating this space. Young people now have a place to learn valuable skills, build lasting careers, and earn a dignified salary that supports their families."
He urges more investors to follow suit, planting seeds of opportunity in a land starved for growth.
As Afghanistan grapples with poverty and economic isolation, the government actively champions such ventures, inviting domestic and foreign investments to foster jobs and self-reliance.
In Max Garment Factory, people see not just cloth being cut and sewn, but the very fabric of a resilient society being mended, one stitch, one story, one hopeful future at a time. ■
People work at Max Garment Factory in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 4, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)
People work at Max Garment Factory in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Dec. 4, 2025. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)