Several tailors in Herat province report that their market has declined while Eid al-Adha is approaching. The ongoing unemployment and poverty have stripped joy even from the holiday celebrations. Traditionally in Afghanistan, even the poorest individuals celebrated Eid by wearing new clothes. However, under the Taliban’s rule, widespread restrictions and increasing unemployment have ended such celebrations.
Nearly three years after the Taliban’s takeover, unemployment and poverty have surged, causing most people to lose their purchasing power and the ability to buy new clothes or celebrate special occasions.
Omid, a tailor in Herat for the past 15 years, complains about the lack of work. He states that even Eid and other holidays have not brought any business. He adds that his clientele has decreased by 40 to 50 percent, and they can no longer afford new clothes for Eid.
The tailor emphasizes, “We craftsmen, especially tailors, used to have good business during Eid, but for the past three years, even Eid brings no business. We hoped for improvement, but each year the situation worsens.”
He adds, “In previous years, three weeks before Eid, we couldn’t accept more clothes for sewing because we were overwhelmed with work, and even on the first day of Eid, we worked until noon. But this year, our customers have halved, and no one came to get clothes for Eid. The reality is people are wearing the same clothes for two Eids and cannot afford new ones for each Eid.”
Sadeed, another tailor in Herat, says that his customers have decreased compared to two years ago and it has declined even fewer than the Eid al-Fitr.
Sadeed adds, “Our work becomes less satisfying day by day, and the markets are deteriorating because we have fewer customers. Two years ago, and even Eid al-Fitr this year, was better than this Eid as more people came, but now very few are preparing new clothes.”
He mentions, “People’s economic situation is poor. Long-term customers who have been with us for 8 to 9 years never haggled over tailoring costs, but now they ask for a 50 percent discount because times are tough and unemployment is high.”
Herat residents say that unemployment and economic difficulties have forced many to celebrate Eid al-Adha without new clothes.
Hamidullah, a Herat resident, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “Unemployment has increased, and the ways people earned a living are closed. There is no business, and people are so economically troubled that they prefer to save their families from hunger instead of buying Eid clothes.”
Hamidullah adds, “After the political changes in the country, both educated and uneducated people in Afghanistan became unemployed, losing their jobs. People used to go to Iran, but now that route is full of challenges. Unemployed people welcome Eid with empty stomachs, not with new clothes.”
Mohammad Omar, another Herat resident, says he could not buy clothes for himself and his children due to economic problems.
He told the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “I wanted to get clothes for the kids, but it wasn’t possible due to unemployment and lack of resources at home. Now, we are wearing the same clothes from Eid al-Fitr for this Eid. As far as I remember, this is the first time we haven’t prepared new clothes for Eid.”
Meanwhile, the Taliban have repeatedly claimed over the past three years that people’s living conditions have improved and that they are working to create job opportunities. However, no one other than the Taliban accepts these claims. On the eve of Eid al-Adha, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that millions in Afghanistan are celebrating Eid while a quarter of the population goes to bed hungry, and 12 million people do not know where their next meal will come from.
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
عید و کاهش قدرت خرید مردم؛ بازار خیاطان هرات رونقش را از دست داده است | روزنامه ۸صبح