December 15, 2022 Firm
Chambers and Partners Continues Band 1 Rankings of Kakar Advocates and its Key Attorneys
This past year has been one of great difficulty and major change for Afghanistan as its economy, which has always been fragile, has turned sharply downward forcing millions of Afghans out of work and more than half of the population facing life-threatening levels of food insecurity.
October 21, 2022 Spotlights
Corporate
Interview with Hojat Fazly, CEO of Harakat - Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility Organization
In this Interview, Mr. Hojat Fazly, CEO of Harakat Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility Organization (Harakat), speaks about the private sector in Afghanistan and Harakat's programs for private sector development. Mr. Fazly further provides his assessment about the role of international organizations in development of private sector in Afghanistan. The interview also includes Mr. Fazly's recommendations for private sector development in Afghanistan.
October 21, 2022 Insights
Corporate
The World Bank Group Aims to Stimulate Economic Recovery Through the Support of the Private Sector
The World Bank Group organized the Afghanistan PERSISTS (Private Enterprise Recovery Scale-up & Initiating Sustainable Transitional Solutions) event to provide a platform for the private sector to discuss a private sector-led economic recovery outlook with international development agencies.
October 21, 2022 Insights
Criminal Law and Litigation
Authorities of the Attorney General’s Office Changed
According to circular number 6 dated August 20, 2022, the acting Attorney General, Mawlawi Shamsudin Shariati, has instructed the regional and central Attorney General’s Offices not to accept new criminal matters for investigation.
October 21, 2022 Insights
Banking and Finance
Bank Transfers to and from Afghanistan Explained
In this article you can read about bank transfers to and from Afghanistan, domestic money transfer within Afghanistan, and money withdrawal and limitations currently imposed.
October 21, 2022 Insights
Taxation
Ministry of Finance Consolidates Tax Collection Offices
The administrative structure of the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan has changed. The Medium Taxpayers Office (MTO) and Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) are dissolved and replaced with the “Taxpayer Services Directorate.”
March 10, 2022 Firm
Kakar Advocates Continues to Offer Insights and Support
The legal and social environment in Afghanistan is changing and Kakar Advocates team is monitoring the situation in real time. Our professionals are in frequent contact with representatives of all state institutions relevant to business operations, including the Afghanistan Central Business Registry, Afghanistan Revenue Department, the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Bank and others to ensure that we always have the latest news.
March 10, 2022 Insights
Taxation
Annual Income Tax Deadline Soon
One aspect of doing business in Afghanistan remains constant—tax compliance is essential. Failure to file an annual income tax return can lead to problems with your business license, bank account, visas, work permits, and other matters.
March 10, 2022 Insights
Banking and Finance
What Does the New US General Licence Cover?
On February 25, 2022, the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 20 on Authorizing Transactions Involving Afghanistan or Governing Institutions in Afghanistan (“GL 20”).
June 12, 2021 Insights
Banking and Finance
Islamic Banking: A Growth Sector in Afghanistan
Islamic Banking is a widely growing sector in Afghanistan and is one of the key focuses of the Central Bank of Afghanistan. A department dedicated to Islamic Banking was established pursuant to DAB’s High Council approval and since then the department has contributed to the growth and development of Islamic Banking through implementing Shariah–compliant banking standards in Afghanistan.
June 12, 2021 Firm
The Man Behind Kakar Advocates
Kawun Kakar, the Founder and Managing Partner of Kakar Advocates LLC, was on the cover page of the second issue of the Business Times magazine, a quarterly Afghan business magazine with articles on topics such as entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and investment. The magazine for decision-makers, Business Times is dedicated to helping Afghan entrepreneurs, businessmen, and investors to build and grow their business in Afghanistan.
June 12, 2021 Insights
Telecommunications
Increased Popularity of Online Platforms in Afghanistan
Online business and entertainment platforms are becoming increasingly popular in Afghanistan. The platforms have started to cover most of the sectors and are increasingly being used for diverse purposes, including but not limited to social media, banking, business, education, and entertainment. Some of these platforms have been popular for years--for example, social media and online games. More recently, greater use of online platforms is being made in more business-oriented sectors such as money transfers and online banking. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many educational activities to online platforms.
June 12, 2021 Insights
Corporate
Closing a Company in Afghanistan
A common—and costly--mistake that many companies make is assuming that if its projects have ended, or it otherwise ceases actively doing business here, then the company has no further obligations with respect to government filings. This assumption is not correct.
June 12, 2021 Insights
Taxation
Resolution of Legacy Tax Disputes
On April 12, 2021, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) and Resolute Support (“RS”) issued a Diplomatic Note to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan regarding certain “Legacy Tax” issues. The Diplomatic Note, which is signed by representatives of the Afghanistan Ministry of Finance, clarifies that the Afghanistan Revenue Department will not attempt to collect Legacy Taxes from the non-Afghan United States and NATO defense contractors.
June 12, 2021 Spotlights
Banking and Finance
Focus on IFC in Afghanistan
In this Interview, Ms. Wagma Mohmand Karokhail, Senior Country Officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC) speaks about IFC, its priorities, and major successes in Afghanistan. She also provides an assessment of the current environment for foreign investors and sectors which are most likely to grow in the near future years.
June 01, 2021 News
Afghan Power Plant Project Recognized as Power Deal of the Year in Afghanistan
We are pleased that Asset Publishing and Research, an integrated multi-media company, and publisher of the Triple A Infrastructure Awards 2021, has recognized a signature project of our client, the Afghan Power Plant Company, as Power Deal of the Year in Afghanistan.
May 29, 2021 Publications
Brief Overview of Afghanistan’s New Law on the Procedure for Securing Rights
Afghanistan’s new Law on the Procedure for Securing Rights was promulgated in late 2020. The new Law aims to advance a number of important objectives including expediting the process of securing the civil and commercial rights of natural and legal persons, encouraging mediation and amicable resolution of disputes, and improving coordination between the Ministry of Justice and other relevant agencies in implementing final court decisions. This article examines the key provisions of this important Law.
January 01, 2021 Publications
Energy Investment Risk Assessment Report Published with Contribution from Kakar Advocates
The Energy Investment Risk Assessment is a publication of the Energy Charter Secretariat that evaluates risks to energy investment that can be mitigated through adjustments to policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks. The report covers 30 countries from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and includes Afghanistan.
December 16, 2020 Firm
Kakar Advocates is Ranked as a Band 1 Law Firm for the Fifth Consecutive Year
Kakar Advocates is proud to be ranked as a Band I Law Firm for the fifth year in a row in the latest Chambers & Partners’ 2021 Asia-Pacific Guide, the most reputable legal directory worldwide, publishing seven regional guides per year that cover 200 jurisdictions. All firms are ranked as Band I, II, or III, with Band I being the highest ranking.
December 03, 2020 Insights
Telecommunications
Telecom Licenses and Issuance Process
The Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) is the sole authority for the issuance of telecom licenses and permits in Afghanistan. ATRA issues licenses for mobile telecom services, new and modern technologies, and supportive services through the Telecom Development Fund (TDF).
December 02, 2020 Insights
Telecommunications
Growth of the Telecom Sector in the Last 20 years
The journey of Afghanistan in the world of telecommunication and relation began with the installation of a telephone at the ARG (Presidential Palace) in 1898. It was followed by the installation of a small telephone system with a capacity of 25 lanes to the north of the ARG in 1908 and telegraph services in 1914.
December 01, 2020 Spotlights
Interview with Omar Mansoor Ansari, Chairman of the Afghanistan Telecommunication Regulatory Authority
In this interview, Mr. Ansari speaks about the Afghanistan Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (ATRA), its scope of work, and its latest achievements. He also discusses the deficiencies in the telecom sector and shares his thoughts about the future and the legal framework of the telecom sector.
December 01, 2020 Spotlights
Interview with Ismail Ghazanfar, Director of Board of Afghanistan Chambers Federation
In this interview, Mr. Ghazanfar, Director of Board of the newly established Afghanistan Chambers Federation (ACF) speaks about the role of ACF in promoting the interests of the private sector, and about Ghazanfar Group’s investments in the energy sector. He also shares views about the key factor and challenges of foreign and domestic investors in Afghanistan.
April 15, 2020 Spotlights
Interview with Zahid Omarzai, Executive Director of the Afghanistan Center for Dispute Resolution
In this interview, Mr. Omarzai provides detailed information about the Afghanistan Center for Dispute Resolution (ACDR), the latest on the expansion of the arbitration, and other dispute resolution mechanisms in Afghanistan.
April 11, 2020 Articles
Public Procurement
Protesting a Procurement Debarment Decision
The Procurement Law and its Procedure provide a mechanism for an expert and independent administrative review in respect of a decision by the National Procurement Authority (NPA) to debar a bidder/contractor for alleged breaches of the Procurement Law. For the purpose of conducting the administrative review of an application challenging the debarment decision, the NPA has established an Administrative Evaluation Committee (AEC) composed of eight experts.
