KABUL (SW): It has been a year since the Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed following an understanding between the camps contending for the Presidential Elections in 2014.
Leaders of the GNU promised to create jobs for the countrymen as their top priority. Analysts believe both leaders of the government have failed to meet their promises made with the public.
Mohibullah Sharif, an analyst, said that the two leaders have given priority to their political affiliations than the national interests that has ultimately damaged the economy. He added that foreign media has also played role in damaging the image of the country.
Industrialists say in this regard that they presented at least ten recommendations to the President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani relating to electricity, loans, taxes etc but the government has only fixed the industrial tax issue lately.
Abdul Raheen Faizan, Representative of the Industrialists’ Association, told Salam Watandar that though the tax has been relaxed from 10 to 5 percent but on the other hand custom duty has been raised. He added investment was shying away, production has been on the decline and joblessness on the rise. He mentioned that production in various units has fallen to 40 percent and many units have been closed.
Sher Wali Wardag, member of the Wolesi Jirga’s Economic Committee, said the GNU was occupied settling internal disputes than addressing peoples’ concerns. “They promised to bring more bread to country mates’ dining table but instead they have snatched it from their table”, Wardag added.
The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) also lamented the performance of the GNU. Khan Jan Alakozay, ACCI Vice President told Salam Watandar the new government has made the laws stricter and in result economic challenges have multiplied. He added investment has declined and the government is focused on seeing ways to increase its revenue collection.
Categorizing the business sectors, he said the small scale traders that do business between $ 0.1 million to $ 0.5 million have seen the maximum damaged in the past one year followed by middle scale and large scale traders.
He said exports have increased this year but imports have declined.
The GNU has also been criticized for not doing enough for security, development and the social sector during its first year in power.
ENDS