Rice, sugar, gold prices fall

KABUL): The prices of rice, sugar, gold and cedar wood decreased during the outgoing going week in the capital Kabul, retailers said on Thursday.

The price of a 50-kilogram bag of Pakistani sugar fell from 1,700 afghanis ($32) to 1,620 afghanis, Food Traders’ Union head, Fazal Rahman, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

While linking the cut to international markets trends, he said the rate of a 50-kg sack of Pakistani rice came down from 3,360 afs to 3,300 afs.

A 49-kg bag of flour sold for 1,110 afs, same as last week, a five-kg tin of ghee for 400 afs, one kg of African black tea for 200 afs and as much Indonesian green tea for 175 afs.

A stall owner in Dasht-i-Barchi locality, Haji Sultan, said the price of per 560 kg of cedar wood fell from 6,800 afs to 6,600 afs.

A gas dealer in the Qala-i-Zaman Khan locality, Noor Ahmad, said the price of one kilogram of liquefied gas stayed unchanged at 50afs a kilogram.

Fuel prices also remained stable, with a litre of petrol priced at 55 afs and diesel at 58 afs, said Sher Hassan, a filling station worker in the Dasht-i-Barchi area.

A jeweller in the upscale Lycee-i-Maryam neighbourhood said the price of one gram of Arabian gold decreased from 2,400 afs to 2,350 afs. The Iranian variety sold for 1,900 afs, compared with last week’s rate of 2,000 afs.

Meanwhile, a moneychanger, Ahmad Shah, said the buying rate of a US dollar was 52.45afs, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees accounted for 525 afs. Last week’s exchange value of the greenback stood at 51.80 afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 524 afs, he recalled.

mm/mud