HERAT, Afghanistan — Shopkeepers in Herat province raised alarm over declining sales, attributing the drop to the worsening economic conditions that have left many residents struggling to afford even basic commodities.
Ghulam Farooq, a grocery store owner, said the purchasing power of residents has diminished significantly over the past year. “Our sales depend on people’s economic ability. People no longer have the purchasing power for food items as they did before,” he said. “This year cannot be compared to last year.”
Many residents, facing deteriorating financial circumstances, are now buying only enough to meet their daily needs. “People are buying just enough to avoid hunger,” said Nisar Ahmad, another shopkeeper. “Last year, sales were better. This year, people are less interested in buying anything.”
Ahmad noted that purchasing patterns vary for those in rural areas, depending on whether they can sell their produce. “People from villages buy more food if they sell their products at a good price. If not, they buy less,” he explained.
The situation is particularly dire for craftsmen and daily laborers, who report earning as little as 20 to 70 Afghanis per day—amounts insufficient to cover basic expenses.
“There’s no business. Yesterday, until evening, I didn’t earn even one Afghani,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a Herat resident. “It’s winter; we need coal. I have a child who drinks formula milk, and yesterday I had to borrow money.”
Local sources report that job opportunities in Herat have significantly decreased, further affecting people’s ability to afford essential goods. As winter approaches, the economic downturn continues to deepen, compounding the struggles of Afghan citizens across the country.
The grim economic reality has left many questioning how they will survive the coming months as the ripple effects of poverty and unemployment touch every corner of daily life in Herat.