RASC News Agency: Residents of Nimroz Province in southwestern Afghanistan report a reduction in the weight of bread sold by local bakeries and accuse the Taliban of failing to regulate these establishments effectively. Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Nimroz, told RASC News Agency on Friday, May 24th, that the Taliban’s municipal administration’s lack of control over bakeries has caused significant concern among the residents.
He stated, “The weight of bread in Nimroz bakeries varies, and each bakery sells bread in whatever quantity they desire.” Similarly, Mahmoud Wahidi, another resident of Nimroz, noted that the weight of bread in city bakeries has drastically decreased compared to the past. He added that the price of bread in Nimroz bakeries ranges from 10 to 50 kabuli rupees.
He explained that the weight of the bread is disproportionately low compared to its price, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among the people. Wahidi suggested that if the Taliban focused on regulating the weight and cleanliness of the bakeries, it would alleviate this issue in Nimroz.
Meanwhile, Osman Habibi, a bakery owner in Nimroz, told RASC that all bakeries in the province adjust the weight of their bread according to the Taliban’s municipal guidelines. He insisted that no bakery can operate against the municipality’s directives and deceive the public.
He remarked, “It is possible that some city bakeries might deceive people, but such deceit is not permissible in Islam.” Parwaiz Naderi, a civil activist in western Afghanistan, confirmed that the Taliban need to pay more attention to the bakeries in Nimroz. He noted that if the Taliban monitored and controlled the city’s bakeries, both the weight and hygiene standards would improve.
Naderi highlighted that the primary concern for Nimroz residents is the Taliban’s incompetence in overseeing local businesses, emphasizing that they need to address public issues continuously. Despite numerous efforts, we were unable to obtain comments from Taliban officials regarding the regulation of bakeries.
