MAZAR-E-SHARIF — Once a pillar of the local economy in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the carpentry trade is now faltering under the weight of economic decline, dwindling demand, and a collapse in construction activity, according to local craftsmen.
Carpenters in Mazar-e-Sharif say their businesses have slowed to a crawl as customers vanish and new building projects all but disappear.
“The people’s economic situation has weakened, and that’s made our business slump too,” said Gul Agha Alizada, a longtime carpenter in the city. “Still, being busy is better than being unemployed.”
In his modest workshop, Ahmad Fardin Faizi and his family continue to craft doors and window frames from indigenous hardwoods. Faizi, who has worked alongside his father and brothers for over a decade, said they remain willing to tailor work to customers’ needs—if the orders come.
“If a client wants a custom design, we’re ready to make it for them,” Faizi said.
But such requests are increasingly rare. The dramatic drop in public income over the past three years, paired with widespread unemployment, has sharply reduced demand for traditional crafts. With few families able to afford home renovations, the knock-on effect on trades like carpentry has been profound.
Local artisans say the downturn began after the fall of the previous government in August 2021. Since then, economic uncertainty, inflation, and a lack of investment in infrastructure have compounded the challenges facing skilled laborers.
Carpentry, once a reliable and respected profession in cities like Mazar, is now becoming unsustainable for many. Workshops that once hummed with saws and chisels now stand quiet, as craftsmen wait for customers who may never return.
