RASC News Agency: The Taliban’s Directorate of Traffic has announced a sweeping new policy that bars private vehicles from operating as informal taxis. According to the directive, issued on Sunday, April 6, any individual wishing to use a personal vehicle for passenger transport must officially register and convert it into a licensed taxi. The move underscores the Taliban’s increasing control over Afghanistan’s economic and transport infrastructure.
The statement specifies that privately owned vehicles whether registered under individual names or companies may only engage in passenger transport after receiving formal authorization through the relevant government bodies. The announcement comes at a time when Afghanistan is grappling with widespread poverty and soaring unemployment, leaving countless citizens dependent on informal economic activities for survival.
The new policy has drawn criticism from drivers and members of the public alike. Many argue that ride-hailing with personal vehicles remains one of the few accessible income-generating options in the current economic climate. Drivers warn that the restrictions not only curtail employment opportunities but may also pave the way for increased corruption and extortion by Taliban authorities. They highlight the lack of alternative job prospects and fear that this latest measure could have catastrophic implications for the livelihoods of thousands.
This directive is being enforced amid one of the worst economic crises in Afghanistan’s recent history. Rather than providing relief or creating job opportunities, the Taliban’s policy is perceived as a punitive step that intensifies hardship for ordinary citizens. As more Afghanistanis struggle to make ends meet, the crackdown on informal transport underscores a broader pattern of authoritarian governance and economic suppression under the Taliban regime.
