Afghan Taliban impose ban on use of Pakistani currency

KABUL: In a significant development, the interim Taliban government in Afghanistan has issued a strict deadline for Afghan citizens to stop using Pakistani currency and convert it into the Afghan Afghani.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has set a deadline of two months for residents to exchange their Pakistani currency holdings for Afghan Afghani at local banks and currency exchange offices. This move comes as part of the Taliban’s efforts to strengthen Afghanistan’s economic independence and promote the use of their national currency.

This decision has been extended to almost all world currencies except for Dirham, Saudi Riyal and Dollar, effectively giving a two-month ban deadline to stop using all foreign currencies.

افغانستان میں پاکستانی کرنسی کے استعمال پر دو ماہ بعد مکمل پابندی ہوگی۔ pic.twitter.com/repOjmG9sT

— امارتِ اسلامی اردو (@IEAUrduOfficial) September 10, 2023

The enforcement of this currency transition policy is expected to pose both challenges and opportunities for the Afghan population. While it may promote the use of the Afghan Afghani and help stabilize the country’s financial system, it also necessitates a swift adaptation to the new currency regulations for businesses and individuals alike.

The Afghan government has encouraged citizens to promptly adhere to the currency conversion requirements to avoid any potential inconveniences or penalties associated with the two-month deadline.

The success of this policy will likely depend on effective implementation, public cooperation, and the readiness of financial institutions to accommodate the currency exchange process.