Afghani strengthens against dollar, fuel, gold prices fall

KABUL (Pajhwok): The afghani strengthened against the US dollar and the prices of fuel and gold decreased, but that of Kazakh flour increased during the outgoing week in Kabul, market sources said on Sunday.

This week, the value of the afghani rose by 1.6 percent against the greenback.

Haji Hussain, owner of Sadaqat Money Exchange Service, said one US dollar traded at 85.60afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees consumed 280afs.

Last week, one US dollar accounted for 87afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees for 285 afs.

Haji Hussani said the US dollar depreciated against afghani because Eid-ul-Adha was approaching and people were making preparations for the religious festival, increasing the economic activity amid hajj season.

He said during last few days the Ministry of Finance sold dollars in the market and bought afghanis to give salaries to officials and teachers, boosting the value of Afghan currency.

Meanwhile, Haji Mohammad Taher Qayumi, deputy head of moneychangers’ union in Sara-i-Shahzada, said as Eid-ul-Adha was closing in, the demand for Afghan currency had increased and its value against the US dollar surged.

He said on days like Eids, overseas Afghans send money to their families, which had a great impact on the value of Afghan currency.

Fuel price

A worker at Ahmadyar Group of Pump Stations said the price of one litre of petrol decreased from 65afs to 64afs and diesel from 63afs to 62afs.

Mohammad Sharif, a liquefied gas seller in Kalola Pushta locality, said the rate of one kilogram of the liquefied gas reduced from 58afs to 56afs.

Zmarai Safi, head of the Food Traders Association, said the rate of 49 kilograms of flour surged from 1,650afs to 1,700afs.

But the price of 24.5 kilograms of Pakistani rice stood at 3,000afs, 16-litre tin of Malaysian cooking oil at 1,700afs, 49 kilograms of Indian sugar 3,600afs, one kilogram of African Black tea 400afs and the same amount of Indonesian green tea at 3,50afs.

Hamid Sufizada, a retailer in the Dahna-i-Bagh Market, said the retail price of a 49-kilogram bag of Kazakh flour was 1,700afs, a 24-kg bag of Pakistani rice 3,050afs and a 49-kg sack of Indian sugar 3,650afs.

Similarly, a 16-litre of cooking oil accounted for 1,750afs, one kilogram of black tea for 400afs and the same quantity of green tea for 450afs.

Gold prices down

Mohammad Fawad, a jeweller in Timor Shahi area, said the price of one gram of Arabian gold decreased from 4,550afs to 4,500afs, but the Russian variety stood stable at 3,500afs.

hz/sa/ma