Ripped banknotes problematic: Ghazni residents

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): The increasing number of worn-out banknotes in circulation is fuelling concerns among residents of southern Ghazni province.

They say the growing number of old banknotes in the province has created many problems for them.

Banknotes of all denominations have become old, but the 10, 20, 50 and 100 afghani bills have become so ragged that they cannot be used any longer, inhabitants claim.

They asked the officials concerned to address the issue because old bills have landed businesspeople and members of the general public in a difficult situation.

Najibullah, a shopkeeper in Ghazni City, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “When customers buy things, they provide us with torn banknotes, which other clients refuse to accept. They reason the bills are so old.”

The problem is the banknotes are now too old to use, according to Najibullah, who urged the authorities to replace the bills.

Nazar Gul, another shopkeeper, also raised the same issue. He estimated of his 5,000 afs daily sales, he receives 2,000 afs notes in good condition. The rest of money he is paid is unacceptable for others.

The government should take steps to resolve problems of shopkeepers and their customers, Gul added.

But those who purchase goods from shopkeepers and companies claim at times they come to blows with sellers because of frayed banknotes.

Bismillah, an inhabitant of Andar district,: Shopkeepers and representatives of companies don’t accept old notes — a big problem for customers and shopkeepers.”

Haji Juma Taraki, deputy head of the Ghazni Moneychangers Union, acknowledged the worn-out bills had created problems for the people.

Taraki told Pajhwok the government previously collected damaged banknotes every two or three years. Over the past four year, however, no such drive had been carried out, he deplored.

It was the responsibility of the central bank (Da Afghanistan Bank) to take such bills out of circulation, he explained.

“We have shared this issue time and again with officials of Da Afghanistan Bank, who promised to resolve it soon,” Taraki pointed out.

Pajhwok tried to get the view of the Da Afghanistan Bank’s provincial branch, but officials there refused to comment in this regard.

But Hasibullah Noori, spokesman for the central bank in Kabul, said: “It is a normal thing for us to print banknotes and inject them into the market in line with our fiscal policy and market requirement…”

Economists believe releasing new banknotes into the market and withdrawing damaged bills create transaction-related facilities.

The former government had signed an agreement with a Polish company on the printing of 10 billion afghani banknotes.

Central bank officials had acknowledged on November 10, 2021 taking the delivery of the first batch of the newly-printed banknotes. No new banknotes have since been circulated.

aw/mud

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