Date: 17/10/1403

Women in Balkh Province report that the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Electricity Distribution Company (Breshna/DABS) has barred women from entering its offices to pay electricity bills. At least five women told Rukhshana Media on Monday, January 7, that Taliban officials prevented them from entering the Balkh electricity office, stating that women are no longer permitted to access the building. According to the sources, the restriction has been in effect for the past five days.

Under this practice, women are required to pay electricity bills through a male family member, electronically, or via banks. The decision has drawn strong criticism, particularly from women who are heads of household. Nasima (pseudonym), who was denied entry when attempting to pay her bill, said: “I am the sole provider for my family and there is no man in my household. My children are young and cannot handle administrative tasks on my behalf. This decision places additional pressure on me and other women who are the only breadwinners for their families.”

The head of the Breshna Electricity Supply Company in Mazar-e-Sharif has not issued an official statement. The incident occurs amid broader Taliban restrictions on women’s access to government offices and public institutions, including recent directives threatening NGOs with license revocation if they employ women.

The exclusion of women from accessing the electricity payment office in Balkh reflects the extension of gender-based restrictions into essential public services under the Taliban. By requiring women to rely on male intermediaries to perform basic administrative tasks, the policy institutionalizes dependency and disproportionately harms women who are heads of household. This enforcement action transforms routine civic access into a site of gender discrimination and structural exclusion.