The Central Bank of Afghanistan reported that its First Deputy Governor, Sediqullah Khalid, met in Turkey with Ismail Vural, Secretary General of the Participation Banks Association of Turkey, and called for cooperation to build electronic payment infrastructure, strengthen technical capacity, and support training to accelerate digital payments rollout in Afghanistan. Khalid stated that interest-based banking has been discontinued in Afghanistan and that all commercial banks provide services in accordance with Sharia law. He also pointed to initiatives to expand electronic and digital payments and to steady growth in deposit levels. Vural noted that Turkey has ten Islamic banks, including three fully digital banks, and that around 97% of banking transactions and payments are conducted electronically. Both sides agreed that the Central Bank of Afghanistan will request the association to dispatch a technical team to assess the current state of electronic payments in Afghanistan and to conduct a technical review of the central bank’s comprehensive plan. The assessment is intended to inform operational priorities and subsequent implementation steps across banking and non-banking sectors, alongside capacity-building training supported by the association.
Central Bank of Afghanistan 2025-11-20
Central Bank of Afghanistan agrees with Participation Banks Association of Turkey on technical review to expand electronic payments
The Central Bank of Afghanistan’s First Deputy Governor met the Participation Banks Association of Turkey to seek cooperation on building electronic payment infrastructure, technical capacity and training to support digital payments. Both sides agreed the association will send a technical team to assess Afghanistan’s electronic payments landscape and review the central bank’s plan, informing operational priorities and capacity-building across banking and non-banking sectors.