Taliban Confirms Rise in Medicine Prices After Banning Imports from Pakistan

Afghanistan International reported that three months after the Taliban's order to halt medicine imports from Pakistan, prices in Kabul's markets have increased by up to 40 percent.

In Kartik, the Taliban announced an end to Afghanistan's decades-long dependence on Pakistani medicine imports, urging importers to find "alternative and legal" sources. The ban took effect this month. Previously, Afghanistan imported more than half of its required medicines from Pakistan.

Abdul Qayyum Nasir, spokesman for the Taliban's Ministry of Finance, confirmed that the administration has instructed importers to seek alternative sources to replace Pakistani medicines.

France 24, citing Kabul pharmacists, reported shortages of some medicines alongside price increases. One pharmacist said certain drugs have become scarce while others have seen price hikes, attributing higher costs to imports via Islam Qala on the Iran border, which have raised transport expenses by 10 to 15 percent.

France 24 quoted an anonymous pharmaceutical industry source, who cited security concerns for not being named, as saying transport costs, previously 6 to 7 percent of total medicine costs, now account for 25 to 30 percent. The source added that losses to traders amount to millions of dollars.

The Taliban and Pakistan clashed in Miizan this year, with borders still affected by prior violence.