QALA-E-NAU (SW) – A number of goldsmiths in Samangan say that the buying and selling of gold in this province has decreased significantly and for this reason, a number of goldsmiths have quit the trade.
Goldsmiths in Samangan state the economic problems of the people as the most important reason for the lack of growth in the gold and jewelry market and say that people sell their gold instead of buying it. Maududdin Siddiqui is the main resident of Balkh, and has been engaged in goldsmithing in Samangan for several years. He says that the activity of goldsmiths has decreased by 70% recently, and due to the recession of the market, a number of goldsmiths have closed their shops.
This goldsmith added: “The same shop you are currently in was our neighbor’s, which has closed down. Due to the lack of work and the economy, the shop is too small, the city is small, and it does not have the capacity for such a shop, and it was forced to close.”
He added that in the previous government, it was not bad that people were satisfied and spending, but now many people bring and sell the gold they have at home.
Mohammad Agha, another jeweler in Samangan, also complains about the lack of growth in the gold market, said that the lack of sales has discouraged him so much that he even wants to close his shop. According to him, many people not only stop buying gold due to economic problems, they bring their gold to the market for sale. Mohammad Agha added: “The jewelry market has been completely declining for several years. Even those who have to buy gold and silver, those who have it at home, bring it here and sell it. We are so discouraged from our business that sometimes we don’t want to go to our shop. In terms of percentage, the market has decreased by 40 to 50 percent, and the reason for this is the economic problems of the people.”
However, the local officials in Samangan attribute the economic problems in this province to the flight of capital from the country and say that the local government is a newly established government and it will take more time to solve the economic problems of the people.
Asadollah Atai, the head of information of Samangan’s Department of Information and Culture, told Salam Watandar: “Of course, the local government is also an almost newly established government because when the system falls, another system is created. It definitely has its problems, but again, the government is committed to providing job opportunities to young people and entrepreneurship for the young generation and others. Of course, entrepreneurs also have their own problems, and during this period, capital may have fled, but Alhamdulillah, the government is committed to provide work for the youth and the people.”
After the caretaker government of the Islamic Emirate came to power, Afghanistan faced an economic recession, which had a severe negative impact on people’s livelihoods and businesses.
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