Date: 05/01/1402 Local sources in Balkh province report that the Taliban, through an official directive, have restructured the bank branches in the province according to gender segregation. As a result, women are required to wait for extended periods in small, designated rooms to withdraw money. Several women who visited the "Azizi Bank" branch in Balkh province on Saturday, 5th of Hamal, to withdraw funds shared with Rokshana media that the waiting areas for women in the bank are poorly equipped. One female client at the private bank branch noted that although the number of women seeking to withdraw money was high, only one female employee had been assigned to handle financial transactions.

The Taliban’s directive to impose gender segregation in bank branches in Balkh province has severely limited women’s access to financial services. By assigning only one female staff member to serve a large number of clients and confining women to poorly equipped waiting areas, the policy undermines women’s economic agency, reinforces systemic gender inequality, and restricts their access to essential public services.

Sidiqueh*, a client at Azizi Bank in Balkh, told Rukhshana Media: “Before segregation, six or seven booths handled transactions for everyone. Now, with just one female teller, we wait hours to access our money—especially difficult during Ramadan and in the heat.” When she asked about the change, a male security guard replied it was to avoid “disrespect” between men and women during the holy month.