Da Afghanistan Bank says it has collected and burned nearly 15 billion old banknotes over the past four years.
While the central bank reports that it has destroyed this large volume of old currency, many residents of Kabul say that worn-out banknotes are still widely circulating in the market, creating significant problems for them. They are calling on the bank to take serious action to address this issue.
Kabul resident Mudassir said: “These days, the money is very old. It’s been washed, it’s worn out, and many of the serial numbers are faded. Our friends bring it to us, and if we don’t accept it, they get upset.”
Another resident, Abdul Wasi, added: “We want our fellow citizens to know that the Afghani is our identity, and it should be kept properly in our wallets.”
Meanwhile, economic experts warn that burning Afghanis at a time when the country is already facing economic challenges could cause further harm to the economy. They believe that simply collecting old notes is not enough, and the central bank should consider new methods to prevent currency from wearing out.
Economist Mohammad Nabi Afghan said: “It’s all a loss because you spend money collecting the notes, destroy them, and then print new ones to inject back into the system. It requires effort. The better solution is to raise public awareness so that people take care of their money.”
Despite the concerns, Da Afghanistan Bank assures that specific programs are in place to solve the problem. According to the bank’s spokesperson, alongside collecting old notes, efforts are being made to expand digital banking in order to reduce reliance on cash.
Bank spokesperson Haseebullah Nuri said: “To reduce the circulation of cash in the market, Da Afghanistan Bank is working to promote electronic banking in the country. Significant progress has been made in this area. We urge citizens to obtain AfPay cards from private banks to help expand digital banking.”
While many citizens continue to complain about the problems caused by old banknotes, experts stress that modern banking not only prevents currency from deteriorating but also helps increase transparency in the country’s financial system.
