Asfandyar Bhittani
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
Taliban administration’s spending so far this fiscal year, exceeding the combined spending on education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and private-sector development, according to a new World Bank report.
Security spending reached 51.3 billion afghanis, or about $787 million, accounting for 45.2% of total expenditure in the fiscal year to date, according to the World Bank’s August 2026 Afghanistan Economic Monitor.
By comparison, the report says education received 18.3 billion afghanis, or about $281 million, accounting for 16.1% of spending. Health received 2.4 billion afghanis, or about $37 million, or 2.1%, while agriculture received 1.2 billion afghanis, or about $18 million, or 1%.
Social protection accounted for 10.9 billion afghanis, or about $167 million; governance received 10.8 billion afghanis, or about $166 million; and infrastructure and natural resources received 9.4 billion afghanis, or about $144 million.
Economic governance and private-sector development received 8.1 billion afghanis, or about $124 million, while other sectors accounted for 1.1 billion afghanis, or roughly $17 million, according to the report.
The spending figures are part of a broader assessment in which the World Bank warns that Afghanistan’s economic momentum is slowing despite favorable rainfall and prospects for a stronger agricultural harvest.
The bank said declining external assistance, disruptions to regional trade and transit and heightened uncertainty linked to regional tensions are constraining economic activity. Continued arrivals of Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan are also putting pressure on labor markets, public services and household welfare, limiting improvements in living standards, the report says.
Spending rises faster than revenue
Public expenditure totaled 27.3 billion afghanis, or about $419 million, in August, down 4% from July but 31% higher than in August 2025, according to the World Bank.
Cumulative expenditure in the fiscal year to date increased 7% from the same period last year and was equivalent to about 8% of annual gross domestic product. The report says that increase outpaced the 4% growth in domestic revenue.
Wages and salaries accounted for 12.8 billion afghanis, or about $196 million, in August, up 2% from July and 20% from a year earlier. Fiscal-year-to-date spending on wages, however, remained 16% below the previous year.
Spending on goods and services rose 7% from July and 23% from a year earlier to 6.5 billion afghanis, or nearly $100 million. Cumulative spending in that category was 35% higher than during the corresponding period last year.
Social transfers fell 44% from July and 7% from a year earlier to 2.2 billion afghanis, or about $34 million, although fiscal-year-to-date spending was up 15%.
The World Bank said spending on the acquisition of assets stood at 5.8 billion afghanis, or about $89 million, down 1% from July but 135% higher than in August 2025. Cumulative spending in the category was up 286%, making it the largest contributor to the overall increase in expenditure.
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amu.tv
Security spending reached 51.3 billion afghanis, or about $787 million, accounting for 45.2% of total expenditure in the fiscal year to date, according to the World Bank’s August 2026 Afghanistan Economic Monitor.
By comparison, the report says education received 18.3 billion afghanis, or about $281 million, accounting for 16.1% of spending. Health received 2.4 billion afghanis, or about $37 million, or 2.1%, while agriculture received 1.2 billion afghanis, or about $18 million, or 1%.
Social protection accounted for 10.9 billion afghanis, or about $167 million; governance received 10.8 billion afghanis, or about $166 million; and infrastructure and natural resources received 9.4 billion afghanis, or about $144 million.
Economic governance and private-sector development received 8.1 billion afghanis, or about $124 million, while other sectors accounted for 1.1 billion afghanis, or roughly $17 million, according to the report.
The spending figures are part of a broader assessment in which the World Bank warns that Afghanistan’s economic momentum is slowing despite favorable rainfall and prospects for a stronger agricultural harvest.
The bank said declining external assistance, disruptions to regional trade and transit and heightened uncertainty linked to regional tensions are constraining economic activity. Continued arrivals of Afghans returning from Iran and Pakistan are also putting pressure on labor markets, public services and household welfare, limiting improvements in living standards, the report says.
Spending rises faster than revenue
Public expenditure totaled 27.3 billion afghanis, or about $419 million, in August, down 4% from July but 31% higher than in August 2025, according to the World Bank.
Cumulative expenditure in the fiscal year to date increased 7% from the same period last year and was equivalent to about 8% of annual gross domestic product. The report says that increase outpaced the 4% growth in domestic revenue.
Wages and salaries accounted for 12.8 billion afghanis, or about $196 million, in August, up 2% from July and 20% from a year earlier. Fiscal-year-to-date spending on wages, however, remained 16% below the previous year.
Spending on goods and services rose 7% from July and 23% from a year earlier to 6.5 billion afghanis, or nearly $100 million. Cumulative spending in that category was 35% higher than during the corresponding period last year.
Social transfers fell 44% from July and 7% from a year earlier to 2.2 billion afghanis, or about $34 million, although fiscal-year-to-date spending was up 15%.
The World Bank said spending on the acquisition of assets stood at 5.8 billion afghanis, or about $89 million, down 1% from July but 135% higher than in August 2025. Cumulative spending in the category was up 286%, making it the largest contributor to the overall increase in expenditure.
.....,
Rest of the article at
Security accounts for 45% of Taliban administration spending, World Bank says | Amu TV
Health received 2.4 billion afghanis, or about $37 million, or 2.1%, while agriculture received 1.2 billion afghanis, or about $18 million, or 1%.
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Source:
https://amu.tv/253034/
https://amu.tv/253034/
