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KABUL: There has been no customs activity in nine ports in the country which have fallen in the hands of the Taliban, said the Ministry of Finance on Saturday.
Mohammad Rafi Tabe, a spokesman for the ministry, has said that the Ministry of Finance had suspended customs operations in the ports of Islam Qala, Torghundi, Nimroz, Abu Nasr Farahi, Sher Khan, Ikhanum, Ishkashim, Spin Boldak, and Dand-e-Patan.
“The Ministry of Finance has accelerated its control and monitoring activities to prevent the loss of national income until the security situation improves in major cities,” he added.
Earlier, it was reported that the Taliban, by controlling these ports, began the process of collecting revenue from these customs offices, earning millions a day.
He said customs revenues have dropped from 7.4 billion Afghanis in June to 4.6 billion Afghanis in July.
The ministry spokesman also said that from August 1 to 17, the Ministry of Finance had collected 1.8 billion Afghanis from other ports.
Currently, the ports of Torkham, Hairatan, Aqina and some other crossings are under the control of the government, and exports and imports from these ports is underway.
With the Taliban taking control of nine ports, the price of raw materials, oil and other goods has also risen.
The Taliban’s takeover of many Afghan ports will strengthen the group’s “war machine” in the country and as violence escalates, the Taliban would continue to collect revenues from the ports.
