AFP: A Large Number of Afghan Women Turn to Small Businesses Due to Taliban Restrictions

The news agency quotes women working in small businesses in the country, explaining that they are striving to meet their family needs. One of these women, Zainab Firozi, supports her family through carpet weaving. She has employed dozens of women and girls in a small factory, who, due to Taliban restrictions, have been deprived of job and educational opportunities.

According to the report, since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, the employment rate for women has drastically decreased. The UN Women notes that before the Taliban's return to power, women made up 26% of government employees, but now this figure has dropped to zero.

On the other hand, Tooba Zahid, a 28-year-old mother from Kabul, turned to making jams and pickles after the ban on education for women and girls. She stated, “I entered the business world to create job opportunities for women so that they could have an income to meet their immediate needs.”

However, Fariba Noori, President of the Afghanistan Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI), emphasized that women like Tooba Zahid, who are involved in small businesses, are unable to promote and sell their products in the market on their own.

Noori added that despite these challenges, the number of small registered factories in chamber has increased since the Taliban took power. She explained that over the past three years, the number of small and home-based businesses has risen from 600 large companies to around 10,000, along with a few larger businesses.

Nevertheless, women working in these small factories have mentioned that their earnings are insufficient to meet the needs of their families.

It is worth noting that since the Taliban returned to power, they have imposed severe restrictions on women’s education and employment, causing the most harm to families where women are the primary breadwinners.