MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Prices of petroleum products have surged 10 percent in northern Balkh province due to closure of the Hairatan Dry Port, an official said on Sunday.
Naseer Ahmad Qasimi, executive director of the Commerce and Industry Department, said after the port closure, petroleum product rates registered the increased.
He said the closure had also sent the rates of other items soaring and inflicted losses on traders. “Most of petroleum products are imported via Hairatan and Aqena ports into Afghanistan.
“After the closure of the two vital facilities, prices of petroleum products started going up. Common people are the worst-affected customers,” the official added.
Qasimi claimed Afghan businessmen suffered millions of afghanis in losses daily. He asked protesters to resolve their issues through political means and let ports reopen.
Salesmen based in Mazar-i-Sharif also complained of rising petroleum products, warning that oil and gas reserves in the province were fast vanishing.
Protesters from the Junbis-i-Millie party staged a massive protest after the detention of Nizamuddin Qaisari and his followers by the security personnel.
A close aide to Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, Qaisari was arrested recently. Protesters have been demanding his release and the return of Gen. Dostum.
nh/mud
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