The Central Bank of Afghanistan, under Taliban control, has announced that it has collected and destroyed worn-out banknotes worth 2.541 billion Afghanis from across the country over the past 13 months. According to the bank, the total value of money in circulation in Afghanistan during this period reached 409 billion Afghanis.
The central bank stated that the purpose of collecting and destroying damaged banknotes is to improve cash management in the market, enhance the quality of currency in circulation, and preserve the credibility of Afghanistan’s national currency.
The bank had previously announced that worn-out banknotes worth more than 1.141 billion Afghanis, collected from the northern and northeastern provinces of the country, were destroyed in Balkh Province.
According to the published information, the destroyed banknotes included denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 Afghanis. The measure is part of the central bank’s broader program to remove deteriorated banknotes from circulation.
The Taliban began a nationwide process of collecting old and damaged banknotes in all provinces of Afghanistan in Qaws (November–December) 2023. The program aims to gradually replace worn-out currency and improve the condition of cash in the market.
The rapid deterioration of banknotes has become one of the challenges facing Afghanistan’s monetary system. The widespread reliance on cash for daily transactions, careless handling during counting, storing banknotes in wallets and unsuitable places instead of banks, and limited awareness about proper currency care have been identified as some of the main factors contributing to the increased wear and tear of banknotes.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
