KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): A number of residents of northeastern Kunduz province have complained of increased food prices in the holy month of Ramadan.
However, the Kunduz Municipality says it has prepared a list to control prices of essential commodities in the province.
Hamidullah, a resident of the province, told Pajhwok Afghan News that shopkeepers and traders usually sold food items at higher rates during the holy month.
“A 49-kilogram flour bag is now sold for 2,600 afgahnis, a tin of seven litres cooking oil for 1,300 afs and a kilogram of meat for 400 afs. I am a vendor and cannot afford to buy these items in Ramadan,” he said.
Abdul Ghani, another vendor in Kunduz City, said: “We have low income but prices are very high. I earn only 50 afghanis a day. This does meet our needs.
“The prices of rice, cooking oil, flour and meat are so high. We are a family of eight. I ask the government to display price lists in markets.”
Kunduz people say food prices fall in other countries during Ramadan, but in Afghanistan, they soar on the contrary.
Sellers of essential items, meanwhile, cite recent global political changes as the main reasons for the rising food prices.
Nazir Aria, a shopkeeper in Kunduz City, said: “Not only in Afghanistan, prices are high all over the world. For example, the price of cooking oil was 1,520 afs before Ramadan and now it is 1,630 afs. The conflict in Ukraine has also had a huge impact on prices.”
On the other hand, municipal officials say they have recently prepared a price list to control the rates of essential materials.
Tajuddin Sahak, spokesman for the municipality, said: “We have held several meetings with market representatives and shopkeepers on preparing the price list.”
Eventually, the official added, they prepared the price list for food items and fuel. Adherence to the list will be monitored and violators taken to task.
Similar price lists had been drawn up in the past too in Kunduz, but shopkeepers mostly ignored them and fleeced buyers.
mds/mud
Views: 86