Gold prices down, food up in Kabul markets

KABUL (Pajhwok): Gold price declined but of essential food items increased during the outgoing week over their last week’s rates in Kabul, market sources said on Saturday.

Hamid Sufizada, a wholesale store owner in Dahn-i-Bagh locality, said the wholesale price of a 24 kilogram bag of Pakistani rice increased from 2,100 to 2,300afs.

He said the price of a 49 kilogram bag of Kazakh flour surged from 1,700afs to 1,750afs, 16 litre of Malysian oil from 1,310 afs to 1,400afs, 50 kilogram of Indian sugar from 2,080afs to 2,250afs.

He linked the hike in prices of these items to high demand at home and decline in imports.

He, however, said the price of one kilogram of Indonesian green and African black tea was 300afs and 230afs respectively as previous week.

In some cases there was a difference in wholesale and retail prices of some commodities and in some cases the prices were the same.

Mohammad Hussain, a retailer in Mandavi Market, said the retail price of 49 kilogram bag of Kazakh flour was 1,770afs, 49-kilogram of Indian sugar 2,300afs, 24-kilogram of Pakistani Sela rice 2,400afs, 16-litre of Malysian Oil 1,450afs, one kilogram of Indonesian green team 320afs and one kilogram of black African team 320afs.

Gold price increased

Mohammad Javed, a jeweler in the Layci Maryam Market, said the price of one gram of Arabic gold decreased from 3800afs to 3,700afs and of one gram Russian variety from 3,200afs to 3,100afs.

He said the decline in gold prices resulted from their decreased rates in international market.

Fuel price

According to Ahmad Javed, owner a patrol station in Wazirabad, the price of one litre patrol is 35afs, and one litre diesel 36 afs, same as last week.

Mohammad Sharif, a gas seller in Kolola Pushta area of Kabul, said that one kilogram of gas was priced at 55afs.

Dollar value up against afghani

Haji Hussain, owner of Sadaqat money exchange shop, said the value of one US dollar was 76.80 and 1,000 Pakistani rupee exchanged for 477afs.

Last week’s rate of one US dollar was 77afs while 1,000 Pakistani rupees consumed 474afs.

nh/ma