Citizens in Afghanistan have voiced concern over the growing circulation of worn-out banknotes. They believe the poor quality of printing and the improper culture of handling money are the main causes of deterioration. They emphasize that the absence of clear laws on the validity and acceptance of banknotes in the market has led people to disregard their value and proper care. These citizens also criticize the process of collecting worn-out banknotes by the Taliban-controlled central bank, arguing that it lacks transparency and that part of the collected money reenters circulation instead of being destroyed.
Tanwir Qayoumi, a resident of Kabul’s District 10, says that on one hand, Afghanistan’s currency lacks durability, and on the other, citizens neglect proper handling. He adds that some people hold money tightly in their hands or touch it with damp or greasy fingers.
This Kabul resident says, “There is almost no respect for the Afghani banknote. Some even sign on it or do whatever they please because they know it will still be accepted in the market. If worn-out notes were no longer valid and a clear law was enacted in this regard, people would pay more attention. Look at how carefully people treat U.S. dollars; if even a single mark appears on them, they are rejected. But the Afghani note, even if torn into pieces, still circulates, and for that reason it has no respect.”
Laala Nazir, a resident of Kabul’s District 2, says that in recent days the number of damaged banknotes has sharply increased, creating serious challenges in economic transactions. She stresses that at times, people unknowingly receive invalid or worthless notes.
Nazir says, “Just yesterday, a child selling bolani didn’t realize that one of his customers gave him a worthless note. When the poor child discovered it, he was very upset.”
This Kabul resident explains that she has often witnessed the collection and burning of old banknotes, and that a few weeks ago, the central bank under Taliban management did the same. However, she insists the process was not accurate, and part of the collected money returned to the market.
Zaheer Ayoub, a resident of Kabul’s District 11, says that currently, worn-out banknotes are widespread across Afghanistan, and people are forced to use them in transactions. In his view, the rapid deterioration of banknotes stems from poor handling practices.
This young man says, “Most people keep money together with papers and documents in their pockets. When they take out the documents, the money also comes out, and part of it gets torn.”
Meanwhile, several economic experts emphasize the importance of cultivating proper practices for handling money, improving printing quality, and expanding the use of electronic payment tools such as credit and debit cards.
Azarkhash Hafezi, an economic analyst, says that today, worn-out banknotes are abundant in the market. One of the major problems for buyers and sellers is disputes over whether or not these notes can be used. Such disagreements waste time, which he describes as part of the nation’s capital that could be used for more productive activities.
This economic expert explains: “To solve this problem, banknotes must be printed to a high quality and according to international standards. A proper culture of handling money must be promoted among the people. Old banknotes should be regularly collected and destroyed, and new, durable ones distributed. Physical money should be used less, and people should instead be encouraged to adopt electronic payment methods such as credit and debit cards.”
Qutbuddin Yaqubi, another economic analyst, believes the only solution to this challenge is strengthening the modern banking system. He adds, “In Afghanistan, when money wears out, significant costs are spent on collecting, printing, and producing new notes. These massive expenses create negative impacts and economic strain. The only way to prevent such losses is widespread use of bank cards and electronic money, alongside strengthening the modern banking system.”
Mir Shekab Mir, another economic expert, says: “The wearing out of money is natural, but the rapid deterioration of physical banknotes results from improper handling. A culture of properly caring for banknotes must be instilled in society so that their lifespan increases and the costs of printing and burning money decrease.”
Over the past four years, the central bank under Taliban control has collected and burned nearly 15 billion Afghanis in worn-out notes—an action welcomed by only a handful of experts and citizens, while others have called for alternative solutions to prevent the waste of such large sums.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
پول فرسوده در افغانستان؛ نادیده گرفتن فرهنگ نگهداری و ضعف بانکها
