Regime change affects commercial activities in Spin Boldak district

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Spin Boldak district of southern Kandahar province is a major commercial area and port along the Durand Line, through which most of Afghanistan’s exports and imports pass.

Wesh Bazar located close to the Spin Boldak-Chaman gate, is a commercial town where traders sell foreign goods such as heaters, televisions, computers, car parts and other items.

Goods of the town are also transported to other provinces of Afghanistan as well as to Pakistan, but business activities in the town have dropped dramatically after regime change in the country.

Hekmatullah, a shopkeeper in the town, said that his business was declined in the recent months.

He said that in the past he had sales sell for 300,000 to 400,000 afghanis a day but now he could hardly made 30,000 afghanis a day.

Stagnation of other businesses in general has also affected our business, and those who used to buy goods for 300,000 to 400,000 afghanis now did not buy goods worth 100,000 afghanis, he said.

Salahuddin, another electronic devices seller in the town, said that the new regime had made businesses worse.

He said most of their goods were transported to the other side of the Durand Line, but the gate was currently shut and they were unable to transport commercial materials.

Other shopkeepers say that restrictions on banks based on which people could withdraw a limited amount of money was another reason that affected their businesses.

Sharifullah, another shopkeeper, says that if restrictions on banks removed it may help their businesses as well.

On the other hand, some people are optimistic that their business will improve with the return of peace and hope current problems would be resolved by the government.

Atiqullah, an electronics seller in Spin Boldak town, agreed businesses declined but said that those who previously could not come from remote areas or provinces were now able to visit the market and purchase goods.

He says that the government officials should resolve problems at Spin Boldak-Chaman border permanently.

Officials have repeatedly said that the new government may face some problems, but assured that they would be resolved gradually.

Spin Boldak is one of the most important and commercial districts of Kandahar through which most of the imports and exports of Afghanistan pass.

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