The Central Bank of Afghanistan has announced that it has collected and incinerated more than 3.3 billion afghani worth of worn-out banknotes over the past year.

Hasibullah Noori, the spokesperson for the Central Bank, stated that under sound monetary policies, new currency is printed and distributed across the country’s markets.

He explained: “The bank has been able to collect 3.363 billion afghani in worn-out banknotes from various zones of the country within the past year and remove them from circulation. These banknotes are collected and destroyed according to a specific procedure.”

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and Investment has emphasized that the Central Bank needs to develop a clear procedure for financial and banking systems to prevent further deterioration of currency.

Khan Jan Alokozai, a board member of the chamber, said: “A card-based system should be introduced where every individual—whether in shops or markets, especially during large purchases—has a designated payment card. This is a common practice in many other countries to prevent the wear and tear of paper currency.”

Nevertheless, some Kabul residents say that the afghani represents the national identity of Afghanistan and must be treated with greater care.

A resident of Kabul named Arab said: “I urge people to handle money properly—keep it in a wallet, and don’t treat it like paper waste in your pockets.”

Another resident, Rahat, said: “Currency is a symbol of our national identity, and to preserve it, we must use wallets.”

The circulation of worn-out banknotes remains a persistent issue in markets, and previous governments have yet to implement an effective mechanism to address it.