Taliban’s Show Auction; Pharmacies Transferred to Commanders’ Relatives.
Local sources say Taliban officials have abruptly dismissed at least 420 employees of the state-owned Ibnesina Pharmaceutical Company.
Out of approximately 460 employees, only 40, including the company’s director, remain in their positions. The rest were removed without notice or legal process. Sources say these mass dismissals are part of Taliban efforts to dominate company resources and revenues.
Dismissed employees insist that the pharmacies were built with their personal funds. The Taliban seized these assets without compensation and put them up for auction.
Sources warn that the auctions are largely performative. In practice, the pharmacies are handed over to family members and associates of Taliban commanders.
The construction cost of each pharmacy is estimated between 800,000 to 1,000,000 Afghanis. Taliban consider these properties state assets and deny former employees any claims.
Some pharmacies linked to regional hospitals in Balkh have also been transferred to specific Taliban officials.
Dismissed staff emphasize that these actions demonstrate systemic corruption and the Taliban’s consolidation of state resources.
