The World Bank granted $691 million USD in aid to Afghanistan at a ceremony attended by senior government officials on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Eklil Hakimi said this money would be invested in healthcare services for remote areas, the implementation of the Digital CASA project, increasing capacity of state-owned banks, and in standardizing services in banks.

Members of the Meshrano Jirga (the Upper House of Parliament) on Tuesday said the reason for the increase in poppy fields in the country is because high-ranking officials are involved in drug smuggling activities. 

Senators made the remarks during the counter narcotics minister, Salamat Azimi’s, appearance. Azimi and officials from the interior and public health ministries had been summoned to answer questions over the increase in poppy cultivation in the country.