Khost women’s only market business flourishes

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok):  Shop owners at the market exclusively for women entrepreneurs in southeastern Khost province say their business has improved and they have so far faced not hurdle to their work.

The two-storey market located west of Khost City, the provincial capital, in Azadi Mena township, was constructed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) during the previous regime and it has a total of 108 shops and 56 stalls.

All shopkeepers of the market are women and no one except women are allowed to visit the market. Ayesha, who owns a shop in the market since two years, told Pajhwok Afghan News that previously only a small number of women would come to the market for shopping, but now their business had improved a lot.

She said a large number of women from various parts of Khost visited the market daily and purchased things of their choice.

“We have no problem here, no one is harmed, our business is going well. Women who cannot go to bazaar can come here and buy things at reasonable prices.”

Bibi, one of the women visiting the market from Mata Chena area of ​​Khost  city, to buys necessary items, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Everything is found here. It is also safe. There are no men and even a 10-year-old boy is not allowed to enter the market.”

Nargis, head of the market, told Pajhwok they were afraid the market would be closed after the return of the Taliban, but on the contrary, they assured cooperation and did not oppose their business.

She said that all kinds of things women needed were available in the market. “Our market is safe and is running smoothly. We face no problem here, women come here from different areas and do shopping freely.”

Maulvi Abdul Wahab, head of the fourth district of Khost Municipality, told Pajhwok Afghan News that business activity at the women market had been lukewarm during the previous regime but improved with the arrival of the Islamic Emirate.

He said they were trying to increase the level of women’s business and work on a plan in this regard was underway.

He said the women’s market was built during the republican regime and that time its activity had been slow and they paid attention to the market after the arrival of the Islamic Emirate to facilitate the businesswomen.

“We visit the market from time to time. If a woman has any problem in her business, we find solution in a short time.”

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