Fuel up, gold down in Kabul

KABUL): The prices of gold aged down and that of fuel went up during the outgoing week in Kabul, where the rates of essential daily-use items stayed stable, retailers said on Thursday.

Abdul Baseer, a jeweler in the Lecce-i-Maryam neighbourhood, said the rate of one gram of Arabian gold decreased from 2,400afs to 2,250afs and the same amount of Iranian variety from 2,000afs to 1,850afs. He linked the decrease to international market trends.

One litre of diesel cost 64 afghanis and the same amount of petrol 63 afs, against their last week’s rates of 62afs and 60afs respectively, said Mohammad Siddique, who works at a filling station in the Taimany Square.

However, the prices of daily-use items remained unchanged as a 50-kg sack of rice stayed stable at 2,500afs, a 5-kg tin of Spin Ghar ghee at 410afs, a kilo of African black tea at 190afs and the same amount of Indonesian green tea at 160afs.

Food Traders’ Union head, Haji Fazl Rahman said the rate of a 50-kg sack of Pakistani flour worked out at 9,80afs and the same amount of Brazilian sugar at 1,850afs, the same rates as last week.

Wholesale prices of the eatables varied from retail rates in some parts of the city. A shopkeeper in the Qala-i-Fathullah locality, Samsoor, said he sold a 50-kg flour bag for 1,100afs, a similar amount of rice for 2,750afs and as much Brazilian sugar for 2,100afs. A five-kg tin of Spin Ghar ghee was priced at 450afs, a kg of African back tea at 200afs and the same amount of Indonesian green tea at 190afs.

A gas dealer at the Taimany, Abdullah, said a kilogram of gas sold for 55afs, the same price as last week.

Moneychanger Mohammad Obaid said the buying rate of a US dollar was 49.45afs, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees accounted for 547afs. Last week’s exchange value of the greenback stood at 49.30afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 545afs.

myn/ma