The Ministry of Finance of the Taliban government of Afghanistan has prepared a draft state budget, which for the first time in 20 years will be financed without international aid, AFP reports, citing a spokesman for the ruling Kabul government.
Afghanistan is in a deep economic crisis that could turn into a humanitarian one, with the World Food Program (WFP) warning of an impending "famine avalanche".
Ahmad Vali Haqmail, a spokesman for the finance ministry, did not specify the size of the draft budget, which will be valid until December 2022, but told the agency that it must be approved by the Afghan government before it can be published.
"We are trying to finance it with our domestic revenues and we believe we will succeed," he said in an interview with RTA public television, excerpts from which were shared on Twitter.
International aid to Afghanistan was cut off after the Taliban returned to power in August, and Western countries also froze billions of dollars held by the Afghan state abroad.
The budget for 2021, prepared by the previous regime under the auspices of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), consisted of almost equal 219 billion Afghans (the national currency, equivalent to 1.75 billion euros), international aid and 217 billion Afghans from Taxes and Charges.
At the time, the exchange rate was about 90 Afghans for one euro, but the local currency continued to depreciate after the Taliban returned to power. On Friday, the exchange rate is 120 Afghans for one euro.
Haqmal also acknowledged that the Afghan state owes employees several months' salaries, but assured that "every effort will be made" to pay arrears before the end of the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment