KABUL (Pajhwok): A Pajhwok Afghan News reporter visited 20 tandoor shops in capital Kabul and found 70 percent of them baking each bread 12 percent less than the weight fixed by the Municipality.
Based on the acting prime minister’s order and the Price Control Commission’s price list issued on April 5, the weight of a 10 afghanis bread should be 145 grams.
However, the weight of the 10 afs bread varied in Kabul bakeries as it was found weighting 119grams and 158grams, showing 39 grams difference.
The inspection showed 14 bakeries sold the bread below the prescribed weight and six other bakeries sold it above the fixed weight.
Bakeries which sold the bread above the fixed weight of the municipality complained they were unable to benefit from their work.
Kabul residents said the difference in the weight of bread was injustice and demanded full control over the market. They asked the municipality and other relevant authorities to fully monitor the prices.
A Kabul Municipality official, however, said they had full control on the market and fully monitored the situation.
According to Pajhwok Afghan News report last year the weight of a 10 Afs bread was different from the weight fixed by the municipality. A bread weighting 125 grams and 171 grams were found in bakeries until the Bakeries Union fixed the weight of 10 afs bread at 180 grams.
Ahmad Shah, a wholesaler in the DahniBagh area of capital Kabul, said the price of a 49-kilogram bag of flour was 3,200 afs till late 2022, but recently its price had declined and the same bag of flour was currently available at 2,150 afs.
The Pajhwok reporter surveyed the bakeries on Monday, 19th of Ramadan, and weighted breads in 20 bakeries.
The reporter found that one 10 afs bread at a bakery in the Ansari Square weighted 158 grams, in Taimani 5th street 153 grams, in old Taimani 152 grams, in Parwan Hotel 151 grams, in Chahar Qalar 149 grams and in the Qala-i-Fathullah’s 5th street bakery 148 grams.
Moreover, a 10 afs bread weight was 142 grams in a bakery in Sherpur, 140 grams in Sarando Blocks, Kolola Pushta and Kart-i-Parwan bakereis.
The same bread weighed 134 grams in a bakery on Qala-i-Fathullah’s 12th road, 133 grams in Qala-i-Najarha and old Taimani 12th road.
A 10 afs bread weighted 130 grams in Shaheed Squre, 125 grams in Khesht-i-Okhtef, 121 grams in Madina Bazar market, 119 grams in old Taimani first road.
Ajmal, a bakery owner in the Taimani 5th Road, who sold the bread eight grams above the weight fixed by the municipality, said some bakeries had decreased the weight of bread in order to earn more profit, but he increased the weight in respect to the holy month of Ramadan and the deteriorated economic condition of the people.
SafiullahSaif, owner of another bakery in Taimani, who also sold bread more than the fixed weight, said since the rates of flour and gas had decreased, they were making profit.
Some residents of capital asked the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to monitor the weight of bread in Kabul bakeries.
Jamshid, one of the residents, said the weight of bread in most bakeries of capital Kabul was low and asked the Municipality to bring such people to the task.
AtiqullahHotak, another resident of Kabul, said that the price of gas and flour had declined and one bread was not enough for a person, adding either the bread price should be decreased or its weight increased.
Municipality Representative NiamtullahBarakzai said they provided weekly price list of 35 most essential items. The prices are fixed after the evaluation of all expenses, taxes and the profit of a businessperson.
He added Market Control Sections were functional in all 22 Municipality Districts of capital Kabul and they were tasked with monitoring the market, preventing hoarding and checking the quality of essential items in the market.
He said the municipality price control mobile teams were inspecting bakeries in capital Kabul and if anybody violated the rules, they will be dealt with according to the law.
nh/ma
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