KABUL, Afghanistan — Food vendors in Kabul say business has sharply declined, with many struggling to pay shop rents and warning they may be forced to close if the situation continues to worsen.
Several vendors told Amu that declining purchasing power among Kabul residents has left markets empty, depriving them of customers. Some said they are selling at historic lows and fear for the survival of their businesses.
“Business has dropped to nearly zero. I am even struggling to pay the rent for my shop,” said one vendor, who asked not to be named. “The market is dead.”
Another vendor, who sells dairy products, said economic hardships have forced people to dramatically reduce their spending. “In the past, business was good. People worked, there were jobs, and we had a market. Now, even in dairy, there is barely any demand,” he said.
Some merchants said they are now considering closing their shops altogether, citing an uncertain future and a severe drop in sales.
“Our business has declined by 97 percent. We’re just trying to sell the food items we already have in stock before they expire. We are not hopeful for the future — we don’t know whether business will recover or get even worse,” another vendor said.
Economists say multiple factors have fueled the crisis, including widespread unemployment, delays in payment of salaries to public employees, and sweeping Taliban restrictions that have severely limited women’s ability to work. Together, they have eroded consumer spending and deepened poverty over the past three years.
Amid the deteriorating conditions, some Afghan citizens have called on international organizations and the United Nations not to abandon the people of Afghanistan during this economic collapse.
