10 gas shops sealed in Kabul for overcharging

KABUL): Ten liquefied gas shops in Kabul were sealed after they were found overcharging consumers on Monday, a day after the Ministry of Commerce warned against charging more than 65 afghanis per kilogram, an official said.

The shops were sealed in the first, second, third, fourth and 17th police districts of the capital, Ministry of Commerce and Industries official Farid Sherzai told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said the move was part of a newly launched campaign to control the commodity price in the city. The campaign involving officials from the National Directorate of Security, the Attorney General Office, the Municipality, and the ministry would continue until the end of winter.

A day earlier, the ministry warned gas dealers of legal action if they sold a kilo of gas above the government-fixed price of 65 afghanis. Sherzai said the Cabinet had decided that a kg of gas be provided to dealers for 57 afghanis per kg.

Before Eidul Adha, one kg of gas accounted for 55afs and soon after the festival, the rate shot up to 120afs. However, the rate was lowered after the ministry started distributing gas to dealers in Kabul. Today’s rate of was 70afs.

ma/mud