Residents of Sangtakht and Bandar district in Daikundi province, Afghanistan, report that the lack of electricity is not only making daily life difficult but is also disrupting administrative services, education, and small businesses.
The electricity shortage has led to long delays for residents when completing administrative tasks. Some have had to wait days just to print a single document.
Tala Ayubi, a teacher in one of the district’s schools, says that many educational centers in Sangtakht and Bandar have closed due to the lack of electricity. “Last year, I went to get my ID card, but they said the power was out, and the printer wasn’t working. I waited a week for a guarantee form until the weather cleared, and they were able to print it.”
Qurban Sarwi, the owner of an internet cafe in the district, says that the lack of government electricity has reduced his operating hours, making it difficult to earn a living.
He said: “In winter, the situation becomes very tough; we have no power at night, and during the day, we can only offer services for one or two hours, while we have more customers in the evening. Without reliable electricity, providing internet and photography services around the clock is impossible.”
Abdul Majid, a resident of the district, also said, “People cannot afford to buy solar panels or high-capacity batteries due to poverty. This problem also affects students at home, as they cannot charge their computers or continue their lessons.”
However, Rahimuddin Rahmani, head of the Water and Energy Department in Daikundi, assures that efforts are underway to implement solar and small hydroelectric projects in the coming years to meet the needs of the residents of Sangtakht and Bandar.
