Afghan units of measurement

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A variety of units of measurement have been used in Afghanistan to measure length, mass and capacity. Those units were similar to Iranian, Arabian and Indian units.[1] In 1924, Afghanistan adopted the metric system.[2][3]

Pre-metric Units[]

Main: Persian, Arab, and Indian units of measurement.

Units similar to those used in Persia, Arabia and India, were used in Afghanistan before 1926. One notable unit used to measure length was the goes, which was equal to 1.16 m (45.67 in).[1]

Narcotics Units[]

Narcotics units used in Afghanistan include:[4]

1 Ser = 7 kg (Ser-i-Kabuli) or 14 kg (Ser-i-Mazar - in Mazare Sharif)

1 Kharwar = 80 Ser - 560 kg

1 Khaltar = approximately 7 kg

1 Maan = 4.5 kg (usually for narcotics weight (cannabis, opium and heroin)

1 mon (used in Quetta) = 50 kg

1 Puri = equivalent to just under 1 kg

1 Tulee = typically user's amount of opium, which is a hearty amount of opium to be smoked in a day (This is roughly one AK-47(7.62 × 39 mm) bullet or 10 g. Some Tulee may be up to 30 g.)

1 ha = 5 jerib; 1 jerib = 2000 m2 (land measurement)

1 Biswa = 1⁄20 jerib = 100 m2.

References[]

  1. ^ a b Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 10.
  2. ^ Proceedings of the 7th General Conference on Weights and Measures, 1927, page 68 (French)
  3. ^ Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 7. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  4. ^ DuPee, M.C. (2009), Afghan Narcotics Terms and Phrases (PDF), Naval Postgraduate School/Program for Culture and Conflict Studies
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