KABUL (SW): Amid the wave of latest social awakening following string of terrorist attacks in Kabul, scores of Afghans have launched self-styled boycott of Pakistani product as a symbol of defiance and annoyance.
Land-locked Afghanistan relies heavily on neighboring countries for essential supplies. Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s top business partner contributing up to 80 to the country’s total imports. In the wake of the militant attacks on Friday and afterwards, Afghan citizens have taken the social media by storm with their anti-Pakistani products campaign.
This comes after President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani pointed finger at Pakistan for supporting militancy in Afghanistan.
Men and women have shared videos, pictures and text expressing their outrage and urging other country mates to follow. Annually, Afghanistan pays around $ 3 billion against products imported from Pakistan.
Impacts of this self-styled boycott however, remains dubious considering the crippling reliance on imported products.
Qias Mohammadi, an economic affairs expert argued that it would be a daunting task to suddenly quit the import and use of Pakistani products. He suggests that the process should continue rather slowly and gradually alongside the strengthening of local industry.
“In the first phase we can stop the import of products that are not extremely necessary”, he said.
Khan Jan Alakozay, Vice President of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said in this regard that the countrymen reserve the right to socially boycott any products. “We support people’s sentiments but obviously the reality and affordability of the alternative products must be kept in mind”, he told SW.
He added Afghanistan needs some 10, 000 tons of wheat a day and a bulk of it comes from Pakistan.
“Similar is the case with ghee, sugar, medicine and other products”, he mentioned.
Meanwhile, those running the boycott campaign stress that is the least they can do legally and peacefully to send a strong message to Pakistan. Campaigners can be seen disposing away Pakistani products and underlining the need to strengthen and promote country’s own products
ENDS
