RASC News Agency: The Taliban’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has declared a three-day nationwide public holiday in celebration of Eid al-Fitr. In an official statement released on Saturday, March 29, the Ministry confirmed that the public holiday would commence following the announcement of Eid. The Taliban also urged citizens to observe the moon sighting this evening and to visit areas in their localities where the moon may be visible. The Taliban’s Moon Sighting Committee further requested that once the moon is sighted, accurate reports be submitted to local courts or the central committee for confirmation. They also urged the public to testify in their local courts if they witness the moon. According to their announcement, today marks the 29th of Ramadan, with the possibility of sighting the Shawwal moon this evening.
However, as Eid al-Fitr approaches, the people of Afghanistan continue to endure severe economic hardship, poverty, and unemployment. The World Food Programme has reported that many Afghanistanis spent Ramadan in poverty, and as Eid arrives, their economic situation remains unchanged. The organization warned that without international aid, the future of Afghanistani citizens could be even more uncertain, deepening their economic struggles. Since the Taliban’s takeover, both poverty and unemployment have dramatically worsened, with many individuals being dismissed from their jobs, and others seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, where they now face the threat of deportation.
In the three years since the Taliban’s return to power, there has been little progress in addressing the country’s economic crisis or mitigating the pervasive poverty. Instead, the Taliban’s focus has largely remained on consolidating their own power. For many Afghanistanis, Eid is a time marked by poverty and unemployment, and yet, the Taliban government, which claims to prioritize justice and the welfare of its people, has taken no significant steps to improve the lives of its citizens.
