Khost residents call for strict price control regime

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Some residents in southeastern Khost province have complained about the soaring prices of food items and asked relevant officials to control the prices.

They said every year the prices of food items increased on the eve of Ramazan and people could not purchase them.

Ihsanullah Rawan, a resident of Khost City, told Pajhwok Afghan News that food items prices have surged again this time during the holy month of Ramazan like the previous years and people are faced with several problems.

He asked relevant institutions especially the Municipality to control prices and deal with the violators according to the law.

He said: “Some steps had been taken in this regard but still there was a need for further action to address this problem, we want the municipality to take strict action to address this issue.”

Rahman Arman, another resident of Khost City, said: “The rules set by the Municipality are not yet implemented, we want that price list and other mechanisms introduced in this regard to be implemented.”

Rahmatullah, one of the shopkeepers in Khost City, said the prices of food items had increased now compared to the past month.

He said last month the price of 16-litre cooking oil was 1,300 afs but now it had surged to 1,350 afs, the price of a 50-kilogram bag of sugar was 3,000 afs but now 3,100 afs, 7-kilogram of Dal Nakhoud were accounted for 600 afs but now 680 afs, the same quantity of beans were earlier 850 afs but now 900 afs.

He said there was no major change in the prices of flour.

Rahmatullah said during Ramazan demand for food items grew therefore its prices also increased.

Din Mohammad Zaland, another shopkeeper in Khost City, also acknowledged the increase in the prices of food items during the month of Ramazan and asked shopkeepers to cooperate with the people during this month.

Sawab Gul, head of the Price Control and Market Management Commission, said they visited markets three times in a week to monitor prices.

“It is true that the prices of some items had surged, we visit the market three times in a week to monitor the prices, we put all our effort to control prices,” he said.

It is worth mentioning that earlier some people in other provinces also complained against increase in the prices during the month of Ramazan.

nh