Firewood price up by over 14pc in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): Prices of firewood, sugar, cooking oil, flour and Russian gold have increased during the outgoing week in Kabul, market sources said on Sunday.

Hamid Sufizada, a wholesale store owner in Dahn-i-Bagh locality, said the wholesale price of a 50 kilogram bag of Indian sugar increased to 2,300afs from 2,270afs.

A 16 litre bottle of Malaysian cooking oil rose to 1,400afs from 1,350 and a 49-kilogram sack of Kazakhstan flour to 1,750 afghanis from 1,730afs, he added.

The store owner linked the hike in prices to high demand for the commodities at home and a decline in imports.

He, however, said rates of other items remained unchanged as last week, with a 24-kilogram bag of Pakistani rice accounting for 2,300afs. One kilogram of African black tea sold for 320afs and the same amount of Indonesian green tea for 300afs.

In some cases, wholesale prices of certain items differed from retail rates. In others, prices remained the same.

Mohammad Omaid Hussain, a retailer in the Mandavi Market, said the retail price of a 49 kilogram bag of Kazakhstan flour was 1,800afs, with a 49-kg sack of Indian sugar costing 2,320afs.

He said a 24-kilogram bag of Pakistani rice cost 2,400afs, a 16-litre bottle of Malaysian oil 1,400afs, one kilogram of Indonesian green team 320afs and one kilogram of African black tea 350afs.

Russian gold price up

Mohammad Javed, a jeweller in the Lycee Maryam Market, said the price of one gram of Russian gold increased from 3,000 to 3,250afs. But the price of the Arabian variety remained the same as last week, with one gram costing 3,750afs.

Fuel rates

Abdul Hakim, a wood seller at Charah-i-Shaheed Square, said the price of per 560 kilograms of unpeeled oak went up from 7,500afs to 9,000afs and the same amount of peeled oak surged from 7,800afs to 8,500afs.

He said per 560 kilograms of coal increased in prices to 6,800afs from 6,400afs. The prices of fuel remained unchanged

A worker of Hashimi Fuel Station in Charah-i-Taimani area said the price of one litre of diesel stood at 38afs and the same amount of petrol at 35afs.

Mohammad Sharif, a gas seller in the Kolola Pushta area of Kabul, said one kilogram of gas was priced at 60afs.

Haji Hussain, owner of the Sadaqat money exchange shop, said the value of one US dollar was 76.90 and 1,000 Pakistani rupee accounted for 473afs.

sa/mud

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