The shopkeepers said this is the case despite the Islamic Emirate’s decision to reduce the taxes from 1.5 percent to 0.5 percent, reports Tolo News.

"While the previous government imposed 1.5 percent, the taxes would have been between 14,000 Afs to 15,000 Afs. Now, while the taxes have been reduced to 0.5 percent, they issued the bill for 200,000 Afs," Qayom Khan, a shopkeeper, told the news portal.

The shopkeepers said they were now selling goods at higher prices due to a sharp rise in taxes.

"The materials in my shop are worth around 500,000 Afs and half of it is a loan. But I am charged with 200,000 Afs," Abdullah, a shopkeeper, told Tolo News.