Liquefied gas price up, flour down in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): The price of flour decreased and of liquefied gas jumped in Kabul during the outgoing week that saw rates of other essential commodities staying stable, market sources said on Thursday.

A 50-kg bag of Pakistani flour cost 1400 afghanis against its last week’s rate of 1450afs, said Fazl Rahman, the Food Traders Union head.

Rates of other food items stayed stable during the week as a kg of Vietnamese green tea was priced at 180afs, same quantity of African black tea at 210afs, a 49-kg sack of Pakistani sugar at 1,550afs  and a 5-kg tin of Momin ghee at 380afs– same as last week’s.

But a retailer in Kart-i-Seh area, Khan Ali, sold a 50-kg bag of sugar for 1,700afs, a 49-kg sack of Pakistani flour for 1,550afs and a 24-kg bag of rice for 2,200afs.

He sold a 5-kg tin of Momin ghee for 460afs, a kilo of African black tea for 260afs and the same quantity of Vietnamese green tea for 230afs — higher than wholesale prices.

Gold prices also registered no change, according to jeweler Abdul Basir, who sold one gram of Arabian gold for 2100afs and the same quantity of the Iranian variety for 1750afs.

The prices of petroleum products also stayed stable as a litre of diesel was sold for 60afs and a litre of petrol for 58afs.

But the rate of liquefied gas jumped from 55afs per kg against its last week’s rate of 50afs. A Pajhwok reporter said the commodity was even sold for up to 60afs in the first Macro Rayan locality.

Gas dealers union head Haji Abdul Latif Herati told Pajhwok Afghan News the increase resulted from closure of roads to Kabul in the wake of Saturday’s elections.

He said an essential quantity of gas would soon reach Kabul over the next three days and the commodity’s price would hopefully come down.

Moneychanger Ahmad Shah said the buying rate of one US dollar was 57.15afs, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees accounted for 562afs. Last week’s exchange value of the dollar stood at 57.30afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 563afs.

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