This Eid, prices of essential items up in Samangan

AIBAK (Pajhwok): Residents of northern Samangan province were preparing for Eid when some talked about improvement in their businesses while some complained against an unprecedented surge in the prices of essential items.

On the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr there was too much rush in Aibak, the provincial capital, where people were busy shopping different items.

Shopkeepers said days before the Eid were the ideal business time which they long waited for.

Tailor Khalifa Mureed said during Ramazan, they received a lot of orders. On a daily basis, he added, they stitched up to 20 suits for gents and earned a decent amount of money.

“The Chapa Yakhan type of sewing costs 500 afs a suit while the Qasami variety accounts for 400 afs. We worked day and night and and stitched 600 suits with the help of eight other workers in our shop,” he said.

According to Mureed, people in Samangan were associated with agriculture and their economy was badly hit by the rising prices of agricultural input.

Another shopkeeper, Shahbuddin, was also happy with his business. He said more people visited the market for shopping.

“The market is doing well. People came to the market from villages and far-flung areas. Our daily sales amounted to 80,000,” he explained.

But some Samangan residents grumbled about soaring commodity prices, specially the rates of food items and sweets.

Baba Naeem, another resident, said: “I have three kids — a daughter and two sons. I managed to buy new Eid clothes for them but due to soaring prices and falling income, I could not sew the clothes for myself. I earn up to 200 afs daily, which is not sufficient to meet our needs.”

Jan, a 51-year-old lady from Larghan village, was happy celebrating the festival but complained of esca;ating prices.

“My two sons have got engaged. I bought gifts for their fiancés and in-laws, costing 63,000 afs. Our expenditures are high as my children remain unemployed.”

Bashirullah, in charge of market price control in Aibak, confirmed many people visited markets for shopping on the eve of Eid. With a surge in demand, he reasoned, prices went up automatically.

He said some teams had been tasked with monitoring the situation in markets and ensuring that prices remained under control.

nh/mud

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