Da Afghanistan Bank has announced a ban on the entry of Iranian and Pakistani currencies into Afghanistan.
The central bank said the measure is aimed at preserving the value of the afghani and has urged traders, money exchangers, transport companies, and travelers to refrain from bringing these currencies into the country.
The bank emphasized that the afghani has maintained relative stability compared with many regional currencies, adding that protecting the national currency is essential for strengthening the country’s economy.
Haseebullah Noori, spokesperson for the bank, said: “This measure has been taken to promote the use of the afghani and prevent the use of foreign currencies in trade transactions with countries in the region and beyond.”
Previously, the Iranian toman and Pakistani rupee were commonly used in some areas along Afghanistan’s borders with Pakistan and Iran, particularly in trade transactions with the two countries.
Some economic analysts believe that, if implemented effectively, the policy could strengthen the position of the afghani, reduce fluctuations in the currency market, and increase public confidence in the national currency.
Sayed Masoud, an economic analyst, said: “The afghani holds strong value in the region. In fact, the currencies of neighboring countries are considered soft currencies compared with the afghani.”
Shamsurrahman Ahmadzai, another economic analyst, said: “This step should have been taken earlier, but now is still a good time to stop the use of these currencies so that the afghani can maintain its value and gain greater recognition internationally.”
The relative stability of the afghani in recent months has been described by officials of the Islamic Emirate as one of the country’s key economic achievements.
