The Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan has collected at least 1,5 billion Afghanis from the 10% tax on mobile phone users over the past seven months. According to the ministry, the money will be invested in upliftment projects through the national budget. The ministry expects to make other 4 billion Afghanis during the next solar year.
"The money which we receive from the telecom services tax becomes part of the national budget of Afghanistan and will be spent, based on priorities, on services for the people," said the spokesman of the Ministry of Finance.
A university lecturer and analyst in economic affairs stated that the money should be spent through a serious and transparent process:
"The money which is collected from mobile taxes should be sent to the parliament and the parliament should decide where to spend it," he added. The analysts also said that they are concerned about the lack of a transparent process for collecting the telecom tax and that government needs to address this issue.
