The Chamber of Commerce and Investment criticizes what it says is corruption in the norms and standards department.
A member of the chamber says that the employees of this department allow non-standard goods to enter the country in exchange for bribes.
This come after the head of the norms and standards department, along with his deputy and a director, were arrested yesterday on corruption charges. The Attorney General’s Office said the head of the norms and standards department was arrested while taking bribes.
“Everyone who came to this office came only to fill their own pockets, not service the people…When asked about the ports, the representative of the same department is there, they just fill their pockets and we did not see the effectiveness of this department,” said Younus Momand, deputy head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
Jamshid Rasouli, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office, said that the case of these three members of the norms and standards department are under investigation.
“Their case is being investigated by the prosecutor’s office. It is worth mentioning that their main demand was fort two hundred thousand US dollars,” said Rasouli.
Afghanistan imports many of its goods, including medicine.
Doctors say the lack of monitoring of imported goods, especially medicines and food, threatens the lives of citizens.
“Sharing responsibilities is, in my view, a challenge in ensuring food security. In Afghanistan’s markets, it requires a single entity to take responsibility for food safety,” said Khoshhal Nabizada, Kabul’s public health director.
“Most of the time we see medicines imported into Afghanistan – and food – its use can cause various illnesses in the people,” said Abdulhamid Alimi, a doctor in Kabul.
Meanwhile, watchdog groups say the government has failed to fight corruption and is only taking symbolic actions.
“The government’s recent anti-corruption efforts are influenced by a conference to be held in Geneva next week to attract foreign aid for Afghanistan,” said Nasir Temori, a member of Transparency International and Afghanistan Integrity Watch.
Citizens also criticize the lack of quality control of imported goods, saying that issuing licenses for the import of non-standard goods has endangered the lives of millions of people.
