Afghanistan's Postal Revolution: From 'Pay and Pray' to E-Commerce

In Afghanistan, the national postal service is planning to modernize its operations by phasing out the traditional 'pay and pray' system and implementing mailboxes across the country. This initiative aims to introduce e-commerce and debit card usage in a nation where most people are unbanked, though it faces challenges like higher service fees.

In parts of Afghanistan, where streets lack names and houses lack numbers, utility companies and customers have adopted a 'pay and pray' system, using mosques as drop points for bills and payments.

However, the national postal service aims to modernize this method by installing mailboxes on every street nationwide, as part of a comprehensive plan to upgrade a service hampered by bureaucracy and conflict.

These ambitious plans include introducing access to e-commerce and issuing debit cards for online purchases. It represents a significant leap for a country where most of the population is unbanked, air cargo is nascent, and international courier companies do not even deliver to Kabul, the capital city.