Oak, juniper wood rates down in Kabul City

KABUL CITY (Pajhwok): The prices of oak and juniper firewood have declined in Kabul markets after the government allowed its entry to Kabul, firewood sellers said on Thursday.

Fire wood rates surged in capital Kabul after the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) had banned its entry in Kabul for the past one year.

Local residents have been thrilled that ban on the entry of firewood is lifted and the rates of fire woods declined on the eve of winter.

Hewad Zazai, a resident of capital Kabul, said he came to the city to purchase firewood, adding that he burnt oak and juniper wood for heating up his house.

Shujahuddin, another resident of capital Kabul, said his economic condition was not good and so far he did not purchase firewood and waited for the prices to come down.

“Firewood rates have declined, thanks to Allah, there is difference in its prices and I am very happy if there is more decrease in the prices of firewood.”

Gul Mohammad, a resident of Kabul City’s 8^th Municipality District, said: “I purchased 280 kilograms of firewood, my economic condition is not good and borrowed money from another person, if more firewood are supplied to the city, the prices would further decease.”

Firewood sellers said that for the past one week, the government has allowed those traders who bring firewood --- oak and juniper --- to Kabul city from Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Nangarhar and Laghman provinces.

Sayed Moqim Kalakani, a firewood and coal seller, said that roads are opened and the prices have declined now compared to the past week.

“Now 560 kilograms of oak firewood are accounted for 10,000 afs, but earlier the same quantity of oak firewood accounted for 13,000 afs to 14,000 afs, 560 kilograms of juniper firewood are now accounted for 12,000 afs but earlier the same quantity of juniper firewood accounted o 16,000 afs,” he said.

He added that the Environment Protection Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture had stopped deforestation and the timber trade, which had also increased the price of timber in the market.

Kalakani said that now the government has allowed traders to import timber to Kabul city, adding that the prices have also decreased.

According to him, in Kabul city, mulberry, walnut and other fruit trees are sold for 6,000 to 5,500 afs, but people do not like them for burning..

Haroon, another firewood seller in Kabul city, said that almond and walnut wood is sold for 6,000 to 6,500 afs, but no one purchase other varieties when  oak and juniper wood are available in the market.

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