KABUL (Pajhwok): The value of the US dollar and the prices of fuel and flour increased during the outgoing week in Kabul markets, while the prices of other essential commodities remained largely unchanged.
Currency rates
Haji Mohammad Hussain, owner of Sadaqat Money Exchange Service, told Pajhwok Afghan News one US dollar was traded at 66.50afs, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees exchanged for 230afs.
Last week, one US dollar traded at 64.60afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 227afs.
He said the value of the US dollar had risen against the afghani due to a shortage of US currency in the market. However, trading continued as usual and the exchange rate was expected to decline again.
Fuel prices
A worker at the Ahmadyar fuel station said the price of one litre of petrol increased from 73afs to 77afs, while diesel rose from 68afs to 73afs.
Mohammad Jan Amin, a shopkeeper in Kabul’s Dahan-i-Bagh area, said the price of one kilogram of liquefied gas increased from 56afs to 64afs.
Fuel vendors attributed the increase to rising global oil prices following economic developments and regional tensions.
According to the Oil Price website, a barrel of crude oil was trading at $71.41, up from $68.69 last Saturday.
Food items
Zamari Safi, head of the Food Traders Union in Kabul, said the wholesale price of a 49-kilogram sack of Kazakh flour increased from 1,570afs to 1,580afs compared to a week ago.
He said the price of a 49-kilogram sack of Indian sugar remained unchanged at 2,600afs, while a 16-litre bottle of Malaysian cooking oil continued to sell for 1,850afs.
According to Safi, the prices of other essential food items also remained stable, including a 24-kilogram bag of Indian rice at 2,500afs, one kilogram of African black tea at 380afs and one kilogram of Indonesian green tea at 350afs.
Hamid Sufizada, a retailer in Dahan-i-Bagh market, said a 49-kilogram sack of Kazakh flour sold for 1,630afs, a 24-kilogram bag of Indian rice for 2,550afs and a 49-kilogram sack of Indian sugar for 2,650afs.
He added that a 16-litre bottle of cooking oil sold for 1,850afs, while one kilogram of black tea cost 400afs and green tea 430afs.
Gold prices
Mohammad Fawad, a jeweller in the Timor Shahi area, said the price of one gram of Arabian gold declined from 7,230afs to 7,170afs, while Russian gold fell from 5,760afs to 5,720afs per gram.
Gold traders said fluctuations in local gold prices were linked to changes in international markets.
hz/sa
