HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Some residents of western Herat province complain of increasing food prices in Ramadan, saying rates of essential items are lowered in other countries in the holy month.
Ghulam Rassoul, a resident of the provincial capital, said prices of all food items had shot up with the advent of Ramadan. People were unable to buy these things, he grumbled.
Before Ramazan, the price of one bag of Indian ric --- 25 kilograms --- was 2,000 afghanis. But the current price of the same quantity of rice is 2,500 afghanis.
Abdul Hadi, another inhabitant of Herat, alleged: “Prices have shot up abruptly while businessmen are making excuses of the afghani falling in value or the closure of boarders.”
Low-income groups and poor families were the worst-affected by the price-hike, he said, asking the authorities concerned to take effective measures to control the situation.
Ahmad Wajid, another Herati, said prices of food items declines during Ramazan in other Islamic countries. But in Afghanistan, he regretted prices went up ridiculously.
Abdul Qadir, a shopkeeper, said: “Price increase is in hands of businessmen, not ours. If businessmen do justice and sell products at fair rates, we will also sell them at low prices.”
But Abdul Wadoud Faiz Xada, head of the Herat Professionals Union, accused the government of negligence and failing to monitor market prices.
“Throughout the year, we are faced with inflation and one reason is our unstable currency. We purchase food items in foreign currencies. The absence of a special commission to monitor prices causes hike,” he said.
But the governor spokesman, Ghulam Jilani Farhad, said a special commission, having representatives from different departments, had been formed to monitor prices in the market.
nh/mud
