People urged not to fear food shortage, prices

KABUL (Pajhwok): Hundreds of containers carrying food items have arrived in the country, officials said on Wednesday, urging people not to be worried about commodity prices.

The prices of essential food items and medicines registered a sudden hike following increase in number of coronavirus infections in Afghanistan and closure of some of the country’s borders.

Two days back, flour prices went up 40 percent and of other items 20 percent nation-wide particularly in capital Kabul, due to the spread of coronavirus.

Today, the “FaqirWahab” firm announced selling 100 tons of ghee at lower price in Kabul.

The Nangarhar Chamber of Commerce and Industry deputy director and the “Faqir Wahab firm” distribution head, launched the ghee distribution in Kabul, saying five litters of ghee was priced 500 afghanis in market but priced the same at 350 afghanis today.

He said 100 tons of ghee would be sold to people at the lowest rate in Dehmazang, Arzan-Qimat, MirwaisMaidan, Dashti Barchi and Deh Afghanan areas of Kabul city.

He said the Navid private firm also started selling flour at low prices in Kabul and in few other provinces.

He said the firm sold 50 kilograms of flour for 1,450 afghanis. However last Monday the same quantity of the flour was sold for 2500 afghanis in some parts of Kabul city.

Afghanistan Industry and Investment Department first assistant Mohammad Younis Momand said the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry had assured people not to be worried about shortage of food items.

He said since yesterday 500 containers carrying food items arrived in the country via Chabahar, Aqina, Shir Khan and Islam Qala ports and soon would be reaching Kabul.

He urged the government to provide further facilitate private firms at ports in importing more food items to the country.

Kabul Mayor Ahmad ZakiSarfaraz told Pajhwok Afghan News that they had arrested 150 profiteers in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior over the past 48 hours in Kabul.

He said they will not allow shopkeepers to sell food items at inflated prices and cash in on people’s concerns over the virus in Kabul.

pk/ma