KABUL (Pajhwok): The price of coal went up while rates of food items went down during the outgoing week in Kabul, market sources said on Thursday.

 

A firewood seller Khan Mohammad in Charahi Shaheed area of Kabul said the price of 560 kg of peeled oak decreased from last week’s 7,200 afghanis to 7,000afs and of unpeeled oak increased from the previous 6,400afs to 6,500afs.

 

He told Pajhwok Afghan News the rate of 560kg of coal jumped from 5,800 afs to 6,400 during the week. Mohammad linked the hike in coal price to the blockade of the Salang highway by snowfall.

 

Mohammad Sharif, a retailer in Thaimani neighbourhood, said one kg of gas cost 70afs, the same price as last week’s.

 

Fuel prices remained unchanged. Abdul Saboor, owner of a pump station in Wazirabad area, said a litre of petrol was accounted for 61afs and diesel for 58afs, registering no change.  

 

Fazl Rahman, the Food Traders Union head, said a 49-kg bag of flour cost 1,300afs, a 40-kg bag of sugar cost 1,700afs, a 24-kg bag of rice 18, 00afs, a 5-kg tin of Momin ghee 360afs, a kg of Vietnamese green tea 180afs and the same quantity of African black tea 210afs.

 

But retailer in the Dahan-i-Bagh area of Kabul, Khan Ali said prices of a 49-kg bag of flour jumped from 1,400afs to 1,450afs, a 5-kg tin of Momin ghee from 440afs to 460afs.

 

However, he said the price of a 50-kg sack of sugar decreased from 2,000afs to 1,900, 1kg of African black tea from 280afs to 250afs and 1kg green tea from 260afs to 240afs.

 

He added the price of 24kg of rice was 2,200afs, the same price as last week’s.

 

Mohammad Fawad, a jeweller, said the price of one gram of Arabian gold was 2,000afs but that of the Iranian variety jumped from last week’s 1,600 to 1,630afs. He linked the increase to international market trends.

 

Moneychanger Ahmad Shah said the buying rate of one US dollar was 57.85afs, while 1,000 Pakistani rupees accounted for 567afs. Last week's exchange value of the dollar stood at 57.90afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees at 561afs.