Monitoring Desk
KHOST CITY: Money exchange dealers in southeastern Khost province have closed their shops over the past three days to protest the central bank’s new rules.
According to the money exchange dealers, the central bank (Da Afghanistan Bank) has imposed new rules on them but they could not implement the new rules in the current circumstances.
Ban on Hawala transactions, not keeping people’s cash and providing daily report to the Da Afghanistan Bank regional office are new rules which money exchangers have to abide by.
The new rules are apparently aimed at preventing the Taliban and other militant groups from easily transferring money through Hawala from one place to another.
Shahzad Khan, head of the Money Exchangers Union, said the implementation of new rules was difficult and needed some time.
He said their shops would remain closed until the Afghanistan Bank reconsidered its decision.
Mohammadullah, a resident of Khost City, said: “My father sends money to us each month, but now we have no way to receive the cash.”
Azizurrahman, another resident, said he had been unable to collect money his brother had sent because the money changers’ strike. He said he issue should be resolved as soon as possible.
Governor’s spokesman Talib Mangal said efforts to resolve the issue had been launched. “We invited the money exchange dealers to find solution to the issue and in the same manner we talked to the Afghanistan Bank officials. When the issue is cleared and a decision reached, we will let the media know,” he said. (Pajhwok)
