About half of Afghan population lives in poverty: WB report

KABUL (Pajhwok): Approximately half of the Afghan population is currently living in poverty, with consumer prices continue to decrease because of persistent economic weakness and reduced demand, the World Bank said in its “Afghanistan Economic Monitor” report.

According to the report released yesterday, unofficial customs data from January to September 2023 indicated that Afghanistan’s total exports amounted for US$1.3 billion, showing a slight decrease of 0.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

In contrast, imports into Afghanistan surged to US$5.7 billion -- 27 percent up compared to the same period last year.

Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s primary export market, accounting for 55 per cent of total exports and India follows closely behind as the second-largest export destination, representing 29 per cent of Afghanistan’s total exports.

During the first nine months of 2023, exports to Pakistan experienced a notable 15 percent decline, while food exports to India saw a remarkable increase of 40 per cent.

The bank’s Third-Party Monitoring Agent (TPMA) survey reveals that supply conditions are better, as major markets nationwide have sufficient essential food and non-food commodities.

Deflation dynamics reflect the impact of depleted household savings, reduced public spending, and shocks to farmer income from poppy cultivation bans. These factors have further affected the already weak aggregate demand.

ma