Torkham closure bad for currency exchange in border provinces

KABUL: The closure of the Torkham crossing has led to currency exchange losses for residents and businessmen in provinces located along the Durand Line, the Afghan media reported local businessmen and residents as saying.

They said businessmen in the provinces are forced to buy goods using Afghani currency while selling them in Pakistani rupees.

"We are selling goods with Pakistani rupees but we buy them from other provinces using the Afghani currency. We then have to exchange the Pakistani rupees to Afghani money. Therefore, we are making losses," said Mohammad Allah a businessman in Helmand.

Meanwhile, money exchangers in Shahzada Market said the problems of residents will increase if the use of Pakistani rupees is not prevented in their areas.

"Government must act with determination to prevent the use of Pakistani rupees. If not, more people will face great losses," said Shahzada Market spokesman Zerak.

Central Bank officials said the use of Pakistani rupees is not desirable for Afghans. The bank is not responsible for the losses businessmen incur due to the use of the Pakistani currency. "The Central Bank is not responsible to pay compensation when people lose out because we continue our efforts to be responsible only for the Afghani currency's stability," the Central Bank spokesman Aimal Hashor said.