Kabul

Around half of the factories in Afghanistan have stopped operations due to the financial crisis that has gripped the country after the Taliban ttok over the country in August last year, local media reported on Thursday.

Tolo News citing the Chamber of Industry and Mines reported that these factories stopped working due to banking problems and the lack of raw materials as well as the drop in market demand.

"Due to less demands in markets, banking problems, and electricity problems, 40-50 percent of activities have been stopped," said Mohammad Karim Azimi, an official at the Chamber of Industry and Mines.

Some owners of the factories also voiced their concerns over the lack of electricity to run their operations. Afghanistan mostly relies on Central Asian countries for electricity.

Recently, Uzbekistan has reduced power supply to Afghanistan due to technical problems at the Marjan power station, Ariana News reported citing a statement by Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS).

Amid a humanitarian crisis, many development and construction projects have been stopped in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Taliban has passed the first annual budget without foreign aids amidst concerns over the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the strife-torn country after the US withdrawal.