The Ministry of Economy said that the worn-out Afghani banknotes will be collected systemically, and new banknotes will be injected into the markets.
“Based on a procedure, (notes) will be collected at a determined time and will be removed from the economic rotation because the worn-out banknotes had a negative impact and affected the country’s economy,” said deputy Minister of Economy, Abdul Latif Nazari.
Reuters quoted a US State Department spokesperson as saying that Afghan markets run primarily on cash.
"Afghanistan's markets run primarily on cash, but existing banknotes are crumbling away ...The Central Bank will be able to replace old and damaged banknotes, and this will improve the Afghan people's ability to purchase food and other necessary items," a US State Department spokesperson said as quoted by Reuters.
The acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, Nooruddin Azizi, said that new printed banknotes will facilitate daily business for citizens.
“It can help our country’s economy, development and the problems that the traders faced, particularly in Herat and other areas, where there are problems because of it,” he said.
Reuters quoted Shah Mehrabi, a member of the Afghan Central Bank's supreme council, remarking on the importance of assurances given to banks and companies by the US Treasury that they will not be prosecuted for allowing a transaction by Afghanistan's Central Bank.
"These transactions that were facilitated by the Treasury are welcomed by all Afghans," Mehrabi told Reuters.
The residents of Kabul also expressed happiness over the arrival of new printed Afghani banknotes in Afghanistan.
“The process of transactions should be continuing and those who are in the government and are in contact with the international community in this regard should increase their efforts,” said Sardar Babakarkhail, a resident of Kabul.
The economist Seyar Qureshi said that the lack of new banknotes in the market has affected the economic deals.
“Lack of distribution of banknotes by the Central Bank caused a slowdown in economic deals of the country and this affected the entrepreneurs, and daily business at the market,” he said.
The arrival of the new printed Afghani banknotes is the first since the Islamic Emirate swept into power.