Cash-starved citizens anxiously wait for banks to reopen in provinces

PUL-E-KHUMRI (SW) – Lack and of cash and income continued to cause serious issues for many citizens amid the persistent closure of banks in provinces across the country.

Local branches of many banks in most provinces, including Baghlan, have been closed since the Taliban took over a month ago, raising concerns among residents. Baghlan residents say they are worried that their money saved in the banks will vanish from the banks.

One of the Baghlan residents, Din Mohammad said his months’ worth of salary has been deposited in a bank, but he has not been able to get his money out since the banks closed. He said he is worried his money will disappear in the absence of an accountable government.

Khan Ali, who came to Pul-e-Khumri a week ago from Nahrin district in Baghlan province to collect money, said he has not been able to get his money yet and now does not have enough money to return home.

According to him, if the situation continued like this, things might get worst.

Mujgan, who is a female teacher, said that she had kept all her money in the bank, but with the recent developments, she no longer has access to this money and now she is living in a bad economic situation. She added the banks only give money to customers in the capital Kabul, but those in the provinces remain deprived.

Residents of Baghlan added that after the recent developments in the country, only Azizi Bank ATMs have paid money to some customers once or twice, but many customers have not been able to receive money.

However, officials at a private bank said the banks have borrowed money from traders to solve people’s problems and can pays each customer only up to AFN 5,000 afghanis.

ENDS

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