The Taliban have enacted a new law that gives their leader’s office sweeping authority to oversee the financial operations of all public institutions, according to a statement issued by the Taliban-run Ministry of Justice on Monday.
The ministry said the new Financial Accountability Law, signed by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, assigns oversight responsibilities to his financial office—referred to as the “central financial office.” This office will monitor all revenue and expenditure across state agencies.
The law comprises one chapter and 20 articles. Under its provisions, financial officials at ministries are required to submit full and transparent records of their income and expenditures to the central financial office. The law also mandates that the office conduct precise financial reviews and audits with the responsible officials.
The legislation outlines the entire process of financial handling in public institutions, including staff salaries, food allowances, and miscellaneous expenses, all of which are to be managed through the central financial office, which operates under the Taliban leader’s direct authority.
In addition, the law defines procedures for financial reporting, returning surplus funds, submitting supporting documents, and managing funds allocated to orphanages and their upkeep, the ministry said.
The announcement comes as the Taliban have yet to disclose any comprehensive details regarding national revenue streams, spending practices, or the formulation of either the national or development budgets. To date, the Kabul municipality is the only public institution to have released a public financial report, detailing its income and expenditures in its annual statement last month.
The ministry also announced that a separate decree concerning the regulation of state-owned enterprises has been published in Official Gazette No. 1465. The decree, signed by Akhundzada, contains 16 articles outlining responsibilities related to the oversight of state enterprises, including their establishment, budgeting, financial operations and supervision.
