Latest News
Students turn to black market to buy their school books
A shortage of school books in classrooms in a number of provinces has given rise to a thriving black market trade – that of the necessary educational material all school children need.
According to Afghan students, who started the new school year five weeks ago, the lack of school books has forced them to buy books on the black market.
The Ministry of Education (MoE), which is expected to supply children with the necessary books has not sent enough to schools, said some students, adding that they have been forced to purchase the required books on the black market.
While the sale of school books has been banned by the MoE, book sellers say they are getting copies that are printed in Pakistan and then sold on local bazaars in Kabul and around the country.
“These books are published in Pakistan by traders and we are selling the books in bazaars without any restrictions,” said Noor Ahmad, one Kabul bookseller.
“I have received six books; I bought other books from the bazaar; 60 percent of my classmates don’t have books; all of them have received only six books. All of them bought other necessary books at the bazaar,” said Altaf Nazari, a student.
The MoE said however that the books sold on the black market are not their books but books printed by private companies.
“Efforts are underway to reduce the demand for books on the black market to zero,” said Najiba Arian, a spokeswoman for the MoE.
This comes after the MoE said earlier that they have printed enough books for all students and that these will be distributed as soon as possible.
US Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that Joe Biden administration left about $80 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan, which was a “catastrophic error.”
Vance made the remarks during a visit to a military base in Greenland.
He also said the Biden administration’s “catastrophic error” led to the deaths of 13 US soldiers in an attack during the evacuation at Kabul airport in August 2021.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump also criticized the abandonment of military equipment in Afghanistan and called for its return.
The Islamic Emirate, however, has said that the weapons left by the US in Afghanistan belong to the Afghans and will not be returned.
The Supreme Court announced on Saturday that based on the ruling of the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, 2,463 prisoners have been pardoned and released on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
The court said in a statement that the prison terms of another 3,152 prisoners have been reduced.
Eid in Afghanistan will be celebrated on Sunday or Monday, depending on the moon sighting.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs on Saturday announced that feasibility studies of dams in four provinces of the country will begin this solar year.
The Economic Commission, led by Deputy PM Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in its recent meeting decided to include the survey and feasibility projects of Grumby Dam in Maidan Wardak, Qara Tiri Dam in Balkh, Shana Nari Dam in Kandahar, and Wuch Nari Dam in Paktia in the budget for the fiscal year 1404.
In the meeting, the issues of construction of the Kandahar bypass highway, construction of Arghistan Dam, 90 km of electricity line from Kabul to Jalalabad, and completion of Sheikh Misri substation in Jalalabad were also discussed, and it was decided that the Ministry of Finance will allocate the revenues obtained from the Ganda Kotal lead and zinc mine in Yakawlang district of Bamyan province to these projects.
The Economic Commission meeting also approved a plan for the private sector’s investment in a 40 megawatts solar power generation project in the Hesar Shahi Industrial Park in Nangarhar province. According the plan, the private sector will invest $50.69 million in the project.
About $80 billion worth of US military equipment abandoned in Afghanistan: Vance
IEA frees over 2,400 prisoners on the occasion of Eid
Chennai grapple with IPL home truth after Bengaluru defeat
Economic Commission approves feasibility studies of four dams in different provinces
More than 70,000 Afghans returned home in third week of March: IOM
Next German chancellor: We need to learn from experience in Afghanistan
Islamabad says Afghanistan is trying to build border post on Pakistani territory
Over 500,000 Afghans displaced due to climate disasters in 2024: IOM
Afghanistan beat Greenland 5-4 in Brazil futsal tournament
Afghanistan’s futsal team to face Greenland in Brazil tournament
Tahawol: IEA leader’s call for global engagement discussed
Saar: Ukraine’s response to Russia’s Black Sea deal discussed
Tahawol: Concerns over rising tensions between Iran-US reviewed
Saar: Russia-Ukraine Black Sea deal discussed
Tahawol: Overview of recent developments in Türkiye
-
Sport5 days agoACB names Afghanistan A squad for tri-nation series
-
Latest News5 days agoUzbekistan sends essential food aid to Afghanistan
-
International Sports4 days agoIPL 2025: Last over drama; Ashutosh Sharma clinches win for Delhi Capitals
-
Regional4 days agoEgypt makes new proposal to restore Gaza truce as Israeli strikes kill 65
-
Sport4 days agoAfghanistan eliminated from Asian Beach Soccer Championship
-
Latest News4 days agoNorwegian Refugee Council cuts back on essential humanitarian services in Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoUN warns over 4 million Afghan girls will be deprived of education by 2030 if ban continues
-
World3 days agoSecretive Chinese network tries to lure fired US federal workers, research shows