The residents of capital Kabul complained about the existence of worn-out banknotes in the markets, calling on the Central Bank to pay serious attention to the issue.

The residents praised the distribution of new banknotes but urged the Islamic Emirate to collect the worn-out banknotes from the markets.

"There are all these worn-out banknotes in the market. Whenever you give them to the clients or to the shopkeepers, they don’t take it. If they give it back to us, we don’t take it,” said Shoib, a resident of Kabul.

“The attention that they should pay to the banknotes, they don’t,” said Ahmad Javid, a shopkeeper.

This comes as the Union of Money Exchangers of Sarai Shahzada said that the distribution of 100 million Afs of banknotes is not sufficient for the market.

“My hope is that Da Afghanistan Bank (Central Bank) continues this. 100 million Afs is not sufficient in the market. This process should be conducted gradually for it to be effective,” said Abdul Rahman Zirak, a spokesman for the union.

The Central Bank pledged that the new banknotes will replace the worn-out banknotes in the market.

“The people were complaining about the existence of worn-out banknotes a long time ago. Da Afghanistan Bank ... has begun the distribution of new banknotes to the commercial banks,” said Hassibullah Noori, a spokesman for the Central Bank.

This comes as some other residents stressed the need to take care of the banknotes.
“We want our citizens and countrymen to take good care of the banknotes,” said Ahmad Javid, a resident of Kabul.

“They should preserve the banknotes in their baskets and pockets,” said Shahista, a resident of Kabul.

According to the Central Bank, two batches of printed banknotes have arrived in Afghanistan last year.