Sugar, flour & fuel prices up in Kabul market

KABUL (Pajhwok): The prices of rice and cooking oil decreased, but the rates of Indian sugar, Kazakhstani flour and fuel surged during the outgoing week in Kabul, market sources said on Saturday.

The closures of Salang highway and changes in the value of afghani against US dollar in recent days are the main factors behind the increase in the prices of essential commodities.

Fuel price

A worker at Ahmadyar Group of Pump Stations said the price of one litre of petrol surged from 73afs to 77afs and one litre diesel from 65afs to 68afs.

Mohammad Sharif, a liquefied gas seller in Kalola Pushta locality, said the price of one kilogram of the commodity increased from 54afs to 58afs.

Sugar, flour prices also up

Zmarai Safi, head of the Food Traders Association, said the rate of 49 kilograms of flour increased from 1,600afs to 1,700afs and 49 kilograms of Indian sugar from 3,450afs to 3,550afs.

He said the price of 24,5 kilograms of Pakistani rice decreased from 3,000afs to 2,800afs, 16-litre tin of cooking oil from 1,550afs to 1,500afs, and a kilogram of African black tea cost 400afs and the same amount of Indonesian green tea from 320afs to 350afs.

Safi said that following the closure of Salang highway, the price of some essential items surged, because goods enter Kabul through Shaibar road, and due to the damage of the road the cost increased.

Hamid Sufizada, a retailer at Dahna-i-Bagh Market, said the retail price of a 49-kilogram bag of Kazakh flour was 1,750afs, a 24-kg bag of Pakistani rice 2,850afs and a 49-kg sack of Indian sugar 3,600afs.

Also, a 16-litre bottle of cooking oil accounted for 1,550afs, one kilogram of black tea 450afs and the same quantity of green tea for 400afs.

Gold price unchanged

Mohammad Fawad, a jeweler in Timor Shahi area, said the price of one gram of Arabian gold was 4,150, but the same amount of Russian variety decreased 3,200afs.

Exchange rate

Haji Hussain, owner of Sadaqat Money Exchange Service, told Pajhwok Afghan News that today one US dollar traded at 79.10afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 255afs.

Last week, a US dollar consumed 79afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees 255afs.

hz/sa

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