Shopkeepers and artisans in the capital praised the tax exemption by the Islamic Emirate.

Some of these shopkeepers say that due to low sales and high shop rents, they were unable to pay taxes.

Yesterday, officials in the Islamic Emirate announced that according to the leader's decree, taxes will no longer be collected from small businesses and shopkeepers with annual sales of up to two million Afghanis.

Nisar Ahmad, a shopkeeper, said: "Previously, we could barely cover the rent by the end of the month; it was a struggle. We are very happy with this decision by the Islamic Emirate."

Noor Mohammad, another shopkeeper, said: "We used to pay 65,000 Afghanis annually with great difficulty, and now that we are exempt, we are very happy."

On the other hand, some shopkeepers, while acknowledging that taxes are the government's right, still call for further tax reductions from the interim government.

Jawan Mard, a shopkeeper, said: "It is true that this is the government's right and that it is spent on us again. If there is income and we can pay, it is a very good thing."

Some economic experts believe that the tax exemption by officials in the Islamic Emirate will increase the income of small business owners and encourage citizens to establish small businesses.

Meanwhile, yesterday, officials in the Islamic Emirate announced a reduction in the business tax rate from 0.5% to 0.3%.