Fuel, sugar prices up in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): The prices of fuel and sugar have soared while the Afghani currency continues losing value against US dollars during the outgoing week, market sources said on Saturday.

According to Sara-I-Shazada Moneychangers Union, one US dollar accounted for 71.80 Afghanis and 1,000 Pakistani rupees for 601 Afghanis against last week’s 71.45afs and 596afs.

Abdul Hadi, a worker at Wazirabad fuel station in Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the price of one liter petrol jumped from 50 Afghanis to 52 Afghani and the same quantity of diesel from 46 Afghanis to 47 Afghanis.

He linked hike in fuel prices to its value in international markets and down of Afghani currency value.

However, Ahmadullah, a liquefied gas seller in KololaPushta area of Kabul, sold one kilogram of the commodity for 46afs, registers no change in its rate.

In food items, the price of sugar soars.

Food Traders Union head, FazalRahman said the price of 49 kilograms of Pakistani sugar increased from 1,520afs to 1,600afs due to high demand.

However, he said a 50-kg of Kazakhstani flour cost 1,070afs, 16 liters of Khurshid ghee 1,020afs and 24kg of Pakistani rice 2,000afs, no changes have recorded in the prices.

Meanwhile, Noor Ahmad Khairkhwa, a tea seller in Kabul Mandavi, said a kilogram of Indonesian green tea cost 280afs and the same amount of African black tea 300afs -- same prices as last week’s.

Ahmad WaliPanjsheri, who owns a grocery store in Dahn-i-Bagh area of Kabul, sold a 50-kg sack of Kazakhstani flour for 1,170afs, a 49-kg bag of sugar for 1,750afs, 24-kg of Pakistani rice 2,200afs a 16-litre tin of ghee for 1,100afs, one-kg of Indonesian green tea for 300afs and the same amount of black African tea for 350afs—higher than wholesale rates.

Haji Fawad Ahmad Salehzada, a jeweler in the Timor Shahi area of Kabul, said one gram of Arabian gold cost 2,400afs and the same quantity of Russian variety 1,850afs.

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