The Ministry of Interior Affairs said that the leadership of the Islamic Emirate is working on ways to reopen universities for women and facilitate their access to work.

Acting Minister of Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani met with UNAMA’s envoy Markus Potzel.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) said that Potzel shared his concerns about restrictions on women and girls' education.

Haqqani said that efforts are underway to find a permanent solution for it within the Sharia law and Afghan culture, according to the MoI.

“The interior minister said that the Islamic Emirate leadership is committed to the welfare and prosperity of the people and that efforts are underway to address the problem,” said Abdul Nafay Takor, MoI’s spokesman.

The UN Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Twitter that Potzel conveyed the international community’s call to lift “bans on work and education for women and girls.”

“The ban on Afghan women aid workers will deepen the humanitarian crisis creating greater economic misery and further Afghanistan’s isolation,” UNAMA said.

The ban on women aid workers “affects the provision of humanitarian aid,” said Darya Khan Baheer, an economic affairs analyst. “It also has a negative impact on the country's economy.”

Female students urged the Islamic Emirate to review its decision about the suspension of higher education for women.

“I call on the Islamic Emirate government to reopen universities for women,” said Suraya  Nabizada, a student.

“They want to go to university. They were at the university but the universities were suddenly closed for them,"” said Zakia Alami, a student.

On Tuesday, Fran Equiza, the UN’s Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, met with Mohammad Abbas Akhund, the acting minister of disaster management.

The ban on women aid workers and female students’ access to higher education has triggered global reactions.