Khost residents want transactions in rupees banned

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): A number of residents of southeastern Khost province say most business transactions are carried out in the Pakistani rupee instead of the afghani in the province.

Zabihullah, a resident of Khost City, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Pakistani rupees were used in major business deals and it had created problems for the people.

“Commodities’ rates are different in afghanis and rupees. Most transactions are made in rupees and even small things are sold against rupees,” he added.

He urged authorities to prevent the use of the Pakistani currency in daily transactions.

Ziaullah, another resident, said the afghani would further depreciate against foreign currencies if transactions in rupees continued.

Meanwhile, traders of pine nuts and cars said they purchased and sold goods in rupees.

Anwarullah Mohabad, a car showroom owner, told Pajhwok that they purchased vehicles in rupees in Kandahar, Herat, and Helmand provinces and sold them in rupees as well.

He told Pajhwok they also did not like to use foreign currency but they did it out of necessity.

Samiullah, a trader of pine nuts, said a large amount of the dried fruit was exported to Pakistan, so they purchased it against rupees from farmers.

He said if the government facilitated the export of pine nuts to other countries, then the problem would be solved.

Information and Culture Director Shabbir Ahmad Usmani said all businesspeople had been told to do business in the afghani.

He said they were strongly following this issue in order to prevent transactions in foreign currencies.

“We must prevent the use of rupees and those who continue to use it will be dealt with legally,” he added.

The government has banned the use of foreign currencies, but rupees are still used besides Khost, in Kandahar and some other provinces.

sa/ma

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