The representative of the carpet sellers in Balkh said that due to the lack of a proper market for locally handmade carpets, only a few shops have remained open over time, out of dozens that previously existed.

Hafizullah Sadat, who has been selling locally handmade carpets in a corner of Balkh province for over 30 years, says that over time, the demand for domestic carpets has declined inside the country, and most citizens now prefer foreign carpets.

Hafizullah Sadat told TOLOnews: "God willing, all citizens of the country will turn to local carpets because it benefits their economy. If someone uses a foreign carpet for a year or two, no one will buy it again, but a local carpet can be used for many years, and it can even be passed on to the next generations."

Shahabuddin Amiri, the representative of the carpet sellers in Balkh, said: "There used to be about 50 carpet-selling shops, and the alley was filled with rug sellers. But now only about 10 shops remain, and the others are all selling foreign carpets and rugs."

According to some carpet sellers, the import of Iranian, Turkish, and Uzbekistani carpets is one of the reasons for the decrease in demand for locally handmade carpets.

Abdul Karim, a carpet seller, said: "Our carpet business is currently facing stagnation, and no one buys local carpets. We have been in the carpet business for a century, passed down from my father, and that’s why we’ve kept our shop open, even though we don’t sell more than two carpets a year."

Hekmatullah, another carpet seller, said: "In the past, governments used to support the carpet industry and its craftsmen. We also ask the Islamic Emirate to hold exhibitions to revive the carpet market and encourage people to buy carpets again."

However, the Department of Industry and Commerce in Balkh pledged that efforts are underway to support domestic handmade carpet producers and raise taxes on imported carpets.

Naseer Ahmad Niazi, Deputy Head of the Department of Industry and Commerce in Balkh, said: "Indeed, Afghan carpets are the identity of Afghans. The Islamic Emirate has taken many steps in this regard. The taxes on carpets imported from neighboring countries have been increased, and we are continuously working to revive the carpet market both inside the country and abroad."

Many residents of northern provinces who have used locally handmade carpets say that domestic carpets have unique quality and finesse and are also beneficial in terms of health.

However, their high price has caused fewer families to use them.