8am: Farhad, a pushcart vendor, explained, “People don’t have money to buy things. Every morning, we leave home hoping for work, but there are fewer customers now. On top of that, the Taliban don’t let us work freely, and we’re forced to pay them bribes.” Shopkeepers in Kunduz are also grappling with reduced consumer spending power and the burden of unofficial taxes imposed by the Taliban. They report being required to pay substantial taxes, sometimes in advance. Rising prices, driven by increased taxes and customs duties, have worsened the situation, leaving shopkeepers unable to control costs. Click here to read more (external link).