Gold prices down, rice up in Kabul this week

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The price of rice edged up while that of gold dropped during the outgoing week in Kabul, market sources said.

Food Traders Union head Fazal Rahman told Pajhwok Afghan News the rate of a 24-kg bag of Pakistani rice increased to 1,8500afs from 1,900 afs. He linked the increased rice price in Kabul to hike in Pakistan.

However, he said, other food items prices remained unchanged as a 49-kg Pakistani sugar sack was priced at 1,860afs, a 16-kg tin of Khurshid ghee at 1,070 afs and a 50-kg Kazakhstani flour at 1,200 afs.

Meanwhile, Noor Ahmad Khairkhwa, a tea seller at Kabul Mandavi, said a kilogram of Indonesian green tea cost 280afs and the same amount of African black tea 300afs, the same prices as of past seven days.

Sometimes a slight difference is observed in retail and wholesale prices, but in some areas, the difference is huge.

Ahmad Wali Panjshiri, who owns a grocery store in Dahn-i-Bagh area, sold a 50-kg of Kazakhstani flour for 1,300afs, 49-kg sack of Pakistani sugar for 1,900 afs, 16-litre tin of Khurshid ghee for 1,200afs, 24.5kg sack of Pakistani rice for 2,200afs, a kilo of Indonesian green tea for 300 afs and the same quantity of African black tea for 350afs.

Gold prices went down. Haji Fawad Ahmad Saleh, a jeweller in Timor Shahi area, said the price of one gram of Arabian gold dropped from 2,350 afs to 2,300afs and the same amount of Russian variety from 1,900 afs to 1,850 afs. He linked the decreased price to global market trends.

However, fuel prices remained steady. Abdul Hadi, a worker at Wazir Abad Pump Station, told Pajhwok the price of a litre of diesel was 46afs and the same amount of petrol also 45afs.

Gas prices were also unchanged. Sharif Ahmad, a gas seller at Kolola Poshta area of Kabul, confirmed the rate of gas remained steady at 60afs per kilo.

Haji Hassan, a firewood seller in Charahi Shaheed area of Kabul, said that 560 kilograms of peeled oak cost 8,000afs Afghanis and the same quantity of cedar 7,500afs, same prices as of last week’s.

According to moneychangers’ union in Sara-i-Shazada, one US dollar accounted for 69.40 afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees for 630 afs against last week’s rates of 69.05 afs and 634 afs respectively.