KABUL: Residents of Kabul are concerning with frequent power outages, which they say are creating serious problems for their livelihoods and family economies, especially in hot weather. They emphasize that the lack of electricity is leading to food spoilage, damage to electrical appliances, and even job losses. According to Hashte Subh by the newspaper, Sayed Safdar, a resident of the Dehsabz district of Kabul, mentioned that he was forced to close his dairy shop due to power outages and has since opened a vegetable shop instead. He stated, “Without electricity, we can’t use refrigerators and electrical appliances, and dairy products have spoiled multiple times.” Another resident, Lotfullah Sharifi, complained about voltage fluctuations and frequent power interruptions, saying, “Not only do air conditioners and fans fail to work properly, but our daily lives are also disrupted.” Firoza Hakimi, a woman who works online, noted that the lack of electricity has delayed her work tasks and spoiled food, making her life difficult. Payman Sadat, an engineering student, stated that power outages have complicated project work and academic activities, causing many programs to be postponed due to the lack of electricity. Economic experts argue that the electricity shortage is one of the reasons for the slow pace of economic development, leading to lost job opportunities and increasing the country’s dependence on energy imports. Qotbuddin Yaqoubi emphasized, “The lack of stable electricity not only slows down the economic cycle but also exposes society to livelihood challenges and dependence on foreign resources.” Currently, around 80% of Afghanistan’s electricity is imported from neighboring countries, and with rising temperatures and the winter season approaching, shortages and fluctuations in power supply are expected to worsen.
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