KABUL (Pajhwok): The prices of diesel, sugar and Indian rice increased in Kabul during the outgoing week, while those of gold and petrol declined, market sources said on Saturday.
Zmarai Safi, head of the Food Traders’ Association, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the price of a 24-kg sack of Indian rice rose from 2,500 afghanis to 2,600 afghanis, while a 49-kg sack of Indian sugar increased from 2,600 afghanis to 2,630 afghanis.
He attributed the increases to higher import volumes in Kabul markets.
He said the prices of other essential commodities remained unchanged. A 16-litre container of Malaysian cooking oil cost 2,300 afghanis, a 49-kg sack of Kazakh flour 1,600 afghanis, one kilogram of African black tea 380 afghanis and the same quantity of Indonesian green tea 350 afghanis.
He noted that retail prices sometimes differed slightly from wholesale rates, while in other cases the differences were more substantial.
Hamid Sufizada, a retailer at Dahna-i-Bagh market, said a 49-kg sack of Kazakh flour sold for 1,650 afghanis, a 24-kg sack of Indian rice for 2,650 afghanis and a 49-kg sack of Indian sugar for 2,680 afghanis.
A 16-litre container of cooking oil cost 2,350 afghanis, while one kilogram of black tea sold for 430 afghanis and the same quantity of green tea for 400 afghanis, he added.
Fuel prices
Hikmatullah, an employee at a fuel station in the Wazirabad area, told Pajhwok that the price of one litre of petrol fell from 85 afghanis to 81 afghanis, while diesel rose from 85 afghanis to 86 afghanis per litre.
Mohammad Jan Amin, a shopkeeper in the Dahan Bagh area of Kabul, said one kilogram of liquefied gas sold for 60 afghanis.
According to fuel sellers, prices in Kabul markets have been affected by lower international prices and increased imports.
Gold prices
Mohammad Fawad, a jeweller in the Timor Shahi area, said the price of one gram of Arabian gold fell from 7,010 afghanis to 6,750 afghanis, while Russian gold declined from 5,600 afghanis to 5,390 afghanis per gram.
Gold dealers attributed fluctuations in local gold prices to changes in international markets.
Currency rates
Haji Mohammad Hussain, owner of Sadaqat Money Exchange Service, said one US dollar was exchanged for 65.40 afghanis, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees were exchanged for 230 afghanis.
During the previous week, one US dollar was worth 65.15 afghanis, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees remained at 230 afghanis.
hz/sa
