“New Confusion”: Afghan retirees face challenges with Taliban’s Ministry of Finance app

KABUL: A number of Afghan retirees have expressed that the introduction of an online application for appointment scheduling at the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance exacerbates the issues and confusion they have faced for years. Many of them are elderly and lack access to smartphones and the internet. The Taliban’s Finance Ministry announced on Saturday, that this app was created to “prevent wasting time and ensure transparency” in processing pension payments, and that appointments can only be scheduled online. Haji Khan Sherin, a retiree, described the initiative as a “waste of time and an attempt to deceive retirees,” stating that people in provinces lack internet access and are forced to pay for assistance in filling out online forms. Another retiree, Yawar, noted that most retirees are elderly and that online appointment scheduling will take months. Afandi Sangar, head of the Retirees’ Association, views the initiative as a “good step” because retirees in provinces and abroad can register without traveling to Kabul. However, he stressed that “about 80 percent of retirees do not have internet access.” Abdul Qayum Nasir, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Finance, responded that most retirees are literate and capable of using the app, and those who cannot will receive assistance from their children or relatives. Despite this, some retirees claim that they are not recognized as deserving of pension benefits and are now classified as “debts” under the label of “disinterest.” The head of the Retirees’ Association mentioned that government support has been removed from the Taliban’s procedures, and pensions for those who received them during the republic are not being calculated. Retirees emphasize that the situation has intensified their economic difficulties and that the online application, without providing internet access and training, will only create more problems.