Kabul, Sep 13 (FN Agency) Afghanistan’s private sector on Monday warned the country would plunge into an economic crisis unless Afghanistan reserves are released by the US. Representatives of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) and Afghanistan Chamber of Mines and Industry (ACMI) called the freeze of Afghanistan’s reserve by the United States contrary to humanitarian laws. They called on the United Nations to defend the rights of the people of Afghanistan in addition to the work it is doing for attracting humanitarian support for Afghanistan, Tolo News reported. According to the private sector officials, in the last one month due to disruption in the banking systems between Afghanistan and international banks, all the financial transactions had stopped and if this continues the private sector will face severe recession.
The officials also said so far they have lost hundreds of millions of dollars due to the freeze of Afghanistan assets and the disruption in the banking system. “We call on the United States and the world to solve the issue with the frozen assets, because that money belongs to the people of Afghanistan. If you have political issues with the government or some people, you should not take people’s money hostage,” ACCI acting director Yunus Mohmand said. “In the last one month, we even have been unable to take out one cent from our accounts. The plan that allows people to withdraw $200 USD each week, may work for ordinary people, but businessmen cannot do business with $200 USD each week.
We cannot withdraw millions of dollars by withdrawing $200 USD each week. The international community please do not pave the way for worsening of the situation,” Khan Jan Alokozay, a member of ACCI said. Officials of ACMI said most of the factories are facing serious financial shortage and raw materials because they are unable to withdraw money adding that in the last one month over million labourers have not been paid. The officials of the private sector also said currently the international community and the former Afghan government owes billions of AFS from Afghan contractors and if that money is not paid, the contractors will face recession.