Kabul residents hail price-control by municipality

KABUL (Pajhwok): A number of shopkeepers in the capital Kabul are unhappy with the prices set by the municipality, while officials say the prices of goods are fixed in the presence of relevant authorities.

Kabul municipality provides price lists for shopkeepers and monitors their implementation.

A shopkeeper in Wzair Mohammad Akbar khan area, who declines to be named, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the market has become less colourful recently, and the municipality strengthened price controls which caused “problems” for shopkeepers.

He says they purchase goods in dollars and the value of US dollar goes up and down every day, but since the municipality has sent the price-lists in advance, the shopkeepers suffer losses.

Rahmat Shah, a shopkeeper in Kabul, claimed that some of the rates set in the price list of they were much lower and inappropriate and they could not make any profit if they obey it.

For instance, he said the price of one kilogram of sugar set in the price list was 65 afghanis, while recently the price surged to 90 afghanis following an increase in the wholesale price.

Jameel, a wholesaler in Mandawi market, told Pajhwok that three days ago he sold the high quality sugar for 70 afghanis and the low quality for 65 afghanis.

Rahmat Shal also said that the rising and falling value of the US dollar affected prices, so it is important for the municipality to understand these differences and find a solution.

In addition to price control, he added, shopkeepers are paying rents and taxes and there were other issues that caused the problems.

Samir, a shopkeeper in the city, said: “There is a problem with the value of dollar in the market. It goes down and up. We have to put a little more profit on the goods. If we don’t do it, then there are rents, we have to pay taxes and there are many problems.”

He urged municipality to address their problems in the earliest possible.

Nimatullah Barakzai, an official of the municipality, told Pajhwok three days ago that they distributed price lists in Kabul and also tasked a commission, comprised of relevant agencies and businesspeople.

He says: “The duty and purpose of the municipality is definitely not to harm the citizens and shopkeepers, the purpose is only justice and no one has the right to make a huge profit and the legal benefit that is certain can use it.”

Mujtaba Hussaini, a resident of Dasht-i-Barchi area, told Pajhwok that he was pleased with the price control and it was a good measure by the municipality.

Karimullah Mafaz, a resident of the 11the police district, also said that he was very happy with the control of prices by the municipality.

He added: “These steps from the municipality make the prices stable, preventing hoarding.”

Safiullah Sarwari, a resident of Qala Zaman Khan Locality, says that there should be price control not only during the month of Ramadan, but at all times.

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