LOSING MOST OF MY INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS HAS HAD A VERY BAD IMPACT ON MY BUSINESS

I was board member at my local Chamber of Commerce and was in charge of a women’s market in my area. At the same time, I also ran my own tailoring company in the women’s market with many students. I had been running my Afghani dress business for six years and had good links with national and international markets, with good exports.

Now, due to the 24 December ban, my business has stopped. So now, I’m jobless and doing some tailoring activities at home with two or three students.

We faced a lot of issues with banking and prices for raw materials became high. Due to bank electronic transfer limitations, we are not able to deal with customers outside the country. I saw a very notable drop in my tailoring business since last year.

After the Taliban takeover, businesses stopped for almost 20 days, but after that, the head of the women’s market held several coordination meetings with the de facto authorities (DFA). As it was a private market owned by a local businessman, after the coordination meetings the DFA allowed the women’s market to operate again. But since the 24 December decree banning women from working, our market and businesses have all stopped.

I have a lot of hope for the future of Afghan women and girls.

Schools and universities doors have been closed for girls; therefore, most girls are now interested in self-employment. We really want to serve our Afghan girls, women and community.

My message for the international community is that they must support Afghan women-owned businesses and take the necessary steps for more negotiations with the DFA to allow women to work again in the private sector as well as in INGOs and NGOs.