Petroleum prices up, food stable in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): Fuel prices increased and sugar’s decreased, but those of other daily-use commodities stayed stable during the outgoing week in Kabul, market sources said on Thursday.

A filling station worker in Wazirabad locality, Abdul Saboor, told Pajhwok Afghan News one liter of petrol’s price increased from 40 afghanis to 42 afghanis and the same quantity of diesel from 43afs to 44afs.

About two months ago, a liter of petrol was sold for 58afs and of diesel 56afs. But their prices sunk after a large amount of the products was imported from Central Asia nations.

However, the rate of a kilogram of liquefied gas hovered between 32afs and 40afs in different parts of Kabul.

A liquefied gas seller Mohammad Sharif in Thamani area sold a kilogram of gas for 40afs, the same price as of last week’s in the area. But another gas seller Mohammad Nader in Pul Pacha area sold the same for 32afs.

Eng. Baryalai Rahmani, fuel control director at the Ministry of Commerce, said the ministry had not fixed gas price because it was sold on a proper rate in Kabul.

However, he said a team of the ministry would look into some areas where the commodity was sold for a high rate of 42afs.

The outgoing week did not notice any change in the price of firewood as 560 kilograms of unpeeled oak was sold for 6,800afs, the same price as last week’s, said stall owner, Khan Mohammad, in Charahi Shahiq area.

Among food items, the price of only sugar decreased. Fazal Rahman, food traders union head, said the price of a 50-kg bag of sugar declined from 1,640afs to 1,540afs.

A 24-kg bag of Pakistani rice cost 1,550afs, a 50-kg sack of Pakistani flour 1,250afs, 16 liters of Momin ghee 1,000afs, a kilogram of black African tea 210afs and the same amount of green Vietnamese tea 180afs, the same prices as last week’s.

But a retailer in the Dahan-i-Bagh area of Kabul, Khan Ali, sold a 49-kg bag of flour for 1,360afs, a 50-kg sack of sugar for 1,750afs and a 24-kg bag of rice for 1,900afs.

He sold a 16-kg tin of Momin ghee for 1,100afs, a kilo of African black tea for 250afs and the same quantity of Vietnam green tea for 240afs — higher than wholesale prices.

Similarly, the rates of gold also remained steady. Mohammad Fawad, a jeweller in Timor Shah area, said the price of one gram of Arabian gold was 2,050 afs and the same quantity of the Russian variety cost 1,650afs, registering no change in their prices.

Moneychanger Ahmad Shah said the buying rate of one US dollar was 57.40afs, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees accounted for 564afs. Last week’s exchange value of the dollar stood at 57.30afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 565afs.

mds/ma

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