PUL-I-KHUMRI (SW) – Crippling poverty and rising joblessness have made lives difficult for many in Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s rise to power.
This situation has become more prevalent in the country.
A number of residents of Baghlan province told Salam Watandar that with the establishment of the Taliban government, their economic situation has gone so bad that they are even unable to pay the electricity bills.
Khalid, a resident of Baghlan, was an employee in a public office in the previous government. It has been a month since he has lost his job. Khalid said that he has received a two-month bill of up to 15,000 afghanis, which he cannot pay.
Sabur, another resident of Baghlan, is a taxi driver in Pul-e-Khumri. He said the money for a two-month period of electricity for his house amounted to 10,000 afghanis. Sabur added that he can only afford three meals a day for his family and cannot afford to pay for electricity.
Baghlan residents said the Taliban had warned them that if they did not pay the electricity bill soon, their electricity would be cut off.
They urged the Taliban to address the problem and reduce their electricity bills.
On the other hand, a source in the human resources department of power utility firm in in Baghlan province said that they are collecting electricity bill’s money for the past two periods.
Taliban officials in Baghlan deny any involvement in the issues related to inflated electricity bills, saying they are trying to resolve the issue.
ENDS
