Transferring over $5,000 abroad via airports not allowed: PM

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Prime Minister’s Office has issued a new order, stating that no one is allowed to transfer abroad more than $5,000 through the country’s airports or more than $500 through land borders in cash.

The Administrative Affairs Office (AAO) announced on its X handle that the decree instructs all traders, money exchangers, precious stone dealers, and citizens to strictly adhere to the following regulations:

1: All citizens must use afghanis in transactions.

2: No one is allowed to transfer more than $5,000 through airports or more than $500 through land borders (such as border crossings or checkpoints) in cash.

3: If someone transfers more than the allowed amount, violators will face punishment: one year in prison for every million dollars transferred, one month in prison for every $100,000, and anyone transferring more than $100,000 beyond the stated limits in the second clause will be imprisoned for up to ten days.

4: Any foreign currency or gold confiscated from violators will be deposited in the Central Bank of Afghanistan until further notice from the Prime Minister’s Office.

5: It is strictly prohibited to bring foreign currencies from neighboring countries into Afghanistan.

The decree also states that preventing the smuggling of foreign currencies, gold, precious stones, and historical artifacts is the responsibility of the General Directorate of Intelligence, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Defense.

This regulation comes at a time when the value of the U.S. dollar has been rising against the afghani and other currencies.

kk/ma