Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – September 15, 1994

We flew to Garmsar with helicopters from the place of Henglab Stadium. Mr. Mahluji, [Minister of Mines and Metals] and Nematzadeh, [Minister of Industries] were also there. We landed in the east of Garmsar next to the sodium sulfate powder production factory. On the way, Mr. Nematzadeh explained about the new industrial towns on the route. In the hall, the director of the factory gave general explanations.

They produce pure sodium sulfate powder from the sulfate soil that is taken from the Garmsar desert mine, which is widely used in detergents and paper and glass production. Until now, we used to import most of it. With this factory, which has an annual production of 3000 tons,

We will be self-sufficient and for new needs in the future, they will build a factory next to the rich mine of Miqan Arak.

Then we visited the factory. After unveiling the memorial plaque, it was officially opened with a loud siren. It is a profitable job. Expensive material is obtained from desert soil and the technology is not complicated. This factory cost 20 million foreign currency marks, if they want to build it again, only 20% will be imported and the rest can be built inside. It was decided to invest in Arak, the social security organization. Some people from Sofra and foreign businessmen also came.

In the meeting of the employees, [Mr. Tahaii], the governor of Semnan and Mr. Mahluji and Mr. Sadati, the head of the factory, gave a report and I gave an encouraging speech and conducted an interview. Then we went to the mine site. The thickness of the mine is 150 cm, in several kilometers of desert, and the reserve is much more than what was said in the report. I think they deliberately understated the amount to get more land from natural resources and they have a difference.

Then, in the village of "Dahnmak", we visited an abandoned caravanserai of Shah Abbasi. This caravanserai is being reconstructed as a pilgrimage center for the use of Mashhad travelers. There are many such caravanserais on the way; They are going to rebuild everything. A few that have been reconstructed have been well received. Thirty million tomans were asked for help; It was built to help.

Outside the caravanserai, the people of the village had gathered. I went among them. I greeted Due to lack of water, many people have migrated. They said there are about one hundred and fifty people left. They asked me to help build a small earthen dam in the highlands to bring water to the village. I accepted

From there we flew to the Lethyan dam site. Mr. Marashi, the head of my office, came with me. Efat, Saeed and Sarah had also arrived before us. In the evening, the rest of the children and relatives came. In the evening, we rowed with Mohsen on a pedal boat in Sad Lake. We discussed about the Minister of Industries and Parliament and the future president.

Mr. [Aladdin] Boroujerdi, [Deputy for Asia and the Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs], informed by phone that in Kabul, the civil war has intensified and Sunni and Shia are fighting each other. I told them to pursue a ceasefire. The weather was cold; I could not use the lake for swimming.