Oil, gas, gold, sugar prices down in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): The prices of petroleum products, gas, gold and sugar declined in the central capital Kabul during the outgoing week, market sources said on Thursday.

The rate of one litre of diesel and the same quantity of petrol registered two and one afghani decrease respectively during the week, said Abdul Hadi, a filling station owner in the Wazirabad locality.

Similarly, the price of one kilogram of liquefied gas lowered from 50afs to 48afs, said dealer Mohammad Sharif in Kalola Pushta neighbourhood.

He linked the decline to increased imports of the commodity. However, firewood prices stayed unchanged during the week, but that of sugar decreased.

Fazal Rahman, the traders’ union head, said the price of 50 kilogram bag of Pakistani sugar declined to 1,450 from past week’s 1,550afs as a result of increase in its imports.

A 50-kg bag of flour stayed stable at 1,300afs, a 24-kg bag of rice cost 1800afs, a 5-litre tin of Momin ghee 380afs, one kilogram Vietnamese green tea was sold for 170afs and the same quantity of African back tea for 210afs.

However, wholesale rates varied from retail prices. Mohammad Aman, a shopkeeper in Taimani area, sold a 50-kg bag of sugar for 1,900afs, a 49-kg bag of Pakistani flour for 1,380afs, a 24-kg sack of rice for 2,000afs, a 5-litre tin of Momin ghee for 440afs, a kilo of green tea for 200afs, and black tea for 240afs.

Jeweler Abdul Baseer said the price of one gram of Arabic gold decreased from 2,200afs to 2,100afs and that of the Iranian variety from 1,800afs to 1,700afs.

Money changer Ahmad Shah said the buying rate of one US dollar was 57.42afs against last week’s 57.18afs and 1,000 Pakistan rupees cost 540afs against 534afs last week.

nh/rm/ma