Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan (ARDFM) has decided to limit the validity of payment cards for non-residents to 12 months.

According to the agency, this measure is aimed at minimizing the risks of using banking services in the illegal drug trade and digital asset transactions.

In addition, the ARDFM has reduced the number of cards that can be issued to a single client. However, these restrictions do not apply to cards that have already been issued.

Previously, Kazakhstan had seen an increase in the number of foreign nationals obtaining local bank cards to pay for foreign services, particularly after international sanctions were imposed on Russia.