Badakhshan residents demand practical steps to cut prices

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): A number of residents of northeastern Badakhshan province complain about increased food and raw material prices, saying a catastrophe was imminent if prices were not controlled ahead of winter.

However, officials in the province say food prices have risen globally and the government has no plans to reduce food prices.

Seyed Akbar, a resident of Faizabad, capital of Badakhshan province, expressed concern over increased prices of food and raw materials and said that most of government workers did not receive their salaries and a large number others have lost their jobs. He said that the money of most of people was trapped in banks and it was difficult for them to address their needs.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News that the price of a 49kg bag of Kazakhstani flour increased from 1,350 to 2,100 afghanis, a 16-liter tin of oil from 1,250 to 2,500 afghanis, and a 21kg bag of rice from 1,700 to 2,500 afghanis. He said that a kilogram of liquefied gas price has increased to 95afs from 63afs in the previous regime.

He called on government officials to pay serious attention to the price hike and cut the prices of essential raw materials and create work opportunities for the people.

Meanwhile, Murid Ahmad, another resident of Faizabad, said that food prices were rising as Badakhshan province was already experiencing the cold winter.

"People are not able to make a living this winter, and if left without care, a humanitarian catastrophe could occur in most parts of Badakhshan," he said.

Mohammad Mostafa, one of food sellers in Faizabad, said that increased food prices were a matter of great concern for people. He said that the price of raw materials has increased in foreign countries.

"We did not increase the prices, food prices are increased outside of Badakhshan and even outside the country and markets from where we import," he added.

He said that they sold food items on very low benefit because they also need to get some advantage of their businesses.

People and shopkeepers said a humanitarian disaster was possible if the government stayed careless about prices and unemployment in the coming winter in Badakhshan.

MoazeddinAhmadi, head of Department of Information and Culture of Badakhshan, told Pajhwok that food prices have risen in foreign markets and so far they have no plans to reduce them. "These prices are high everywhere and we currently have no plan to reduce prices,” he said.

The United Nations has warned that up to 97 percent of Afghanistan's population will be living below the poverty line in the near future.

mds/ma