Gold, diesel prices up in Kabul

KABUL): Gold and diesel prices increased while rates of other daily-use items stayed unchanged during the outgoing week in Kabul, retailers said on Thursday.

Abdul Basir, a jeweller in the Lycee-i-Maryam neighbourhood, told Pajhwok Afghan News the price of one gram of Arabian gold increased from 2,200 afghanis ($40.29) to 2,250 afs.

The same amount of the Iranian variety jumped from 1,800 afs to 1,900 afs, he said, linking the surge to global market trends.

Similarly, the rate of one litre of diesel aged up from last week’s price of 58afs to 60afs, while petrol sold for 56afs, the same as last week, said a filling station worker in the Dasht-i-Barchi area, Mohammad Hadi. Mohammad Sharif, a retailer, said the price of gas remained unchanged at 45afs per kg.

The price of a 49-kg sack of Pakistani flour jumped from 1,140afs to 1,150afs while the rate of other food items remained stable, with a 50-kg bag of Pakistani sugar priced at 1,650afs and a 24-kg bag of Pakistani rice at 1,680 afs, Food Traders’ Union head Fazal Rahman said.

A five-kg tin of Momin ghee at 400afs, a kilogram of African black tea at 210afs and a similar quantity of Indonesian green tea at 175afs, he added.

But wholesale prices varied from retail rates in some parts of the city. Khan Ali, a shopkeeper in the Karta-i-Seh locality, sold a 50-kg sack of Pakistani sugar for 1,900 afs, 24-kg rice for 2,000 and 49-kg Pakistani flour at 1,200 afs, a five-kg tin of ghee at 460 afs, a kilogram of African back tea at 270 afs and Indonesian green tea at 220 afs.

Moneychanger Ahmad Shah said the buying rate of a US dollar was 54.75afs, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees accounted for 548afs. Last week’s exchange value of the dollar stood at 54.20afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 544afs.

myn