Amid the steep decline in value of Afghanistan’s currency--the afghani--against the dollar, a number of shopkeepers on Tuesday said counterfeit banknotes are now spreading in the markets.

The shopkeepers called on the central bank to prevent the spread of the counterfeit banknotes.

They say the bills are mostly in denominations of 1000 afghani or 500 afghani banknotes.

Abdul Salim Asadi, a shopkeeper in Kabul, said in the last week he has received four or five counterfeit 1000 afghani banknotes.

According to Adsdi, it is difficult to distinguish between the original and fake banknotes. “This is not the first time, I have received them many times,” Asadi said, holding a fake banknote.

“On the one hand prices have spiked, on the other hand fake banknotes are spreading,” said Abdul Rahim Ahmadzai, another shopkeeper.

Some money exchangers meanwhile said the counterfeit banknotes are very similar to the original banknotes, but still there are some differences that can help in distinguishing them. “Fake banknotes can be distinguished from original banknotes by looking at some of their features,” said Khalil Ahmad, a money exchanger.

The spread of fake banknotes and the drop of the afghani's value caused the cabinet to call for the economic commission to take measures to prevent the injection of more counterfeit banknotes into the markets.

“The spread and injection of counterfeit money into markets will be prevented. Actions will be taken against people behind it,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.