Monday November 9, 2015
Kabul (BNA) A number of Kabul citizens said that like previous years, this year too with advent of winter, the fuel prices specially gas, fire wood and saw dust have increased.
They said that the authorities concerned don’t control the fuel prices and this has caused the shopkeepers to fix the prices according to their will. Two residents of Kabul, Haji Gul Mohammad and Naser said last year early winter, the fuel price was relatively low but this year prior to advent of winter, the fuel prices specially firewood would be increased to Afs 8000 per 560Kg. Majority of people specially government employees and wage owners don’t afford it. According to firewood dealers, at present 560kg of oak firewood is sold Afs 7200 while four months ago the same quantity of firewood was supplied Afs 6500. At the same time the price of one Kharwar(560kg) saw dust has also increased to over Afs 6500 and large number of people use it. The liquid gas price has also increased and has concerned the people while it is still the autumn, let alone the winter.
Ainuddin a resident of Khair Khana said in our locality one kilo liquid gas is sold Afs 70 while the people don’t afford and they are astonished what to do and how to spend the winter, with their innocent children. He asked the government to control the prices in the market and prevent those who overcharge. Some of the firewood and liquid gas dealers called the reason behind hike of prices high custom duties. Dad Mohammad one of the firewood dealers said we purchase wood in high prices and sell it in high price. Sometimes before the firewood was sold Afs 6000 per 560 kg but now due to increase of demand the prices have increased. Criticizing the government, the people asked the Kabul municipality to undertake serious steps on control of fuels and other essentials. But according to the constitution, our economic system is free market system and the government especially the municipality officials are not allowed interfere in market. According to the Petroleum and Liquid Gas Department, the reason behind increase of gas price in Kabul is cleaning of Turkmenistan gas pipelines and gas imports have temporarily decreased. Some of the experts criticized the government said that lack of a precise mechanism on prices control has caused the traders to abuse winter and overcharge. According to Saifuddin Sahoon an economic expert, few certain reasons are behind the hike of fuel prices: Lack of a permanent observation government system on goods prices particularly essentials. The traders are seeking their private interests and irrespective of the people poverty. The free market system is another reason behind this situation that gives the right to traders to fix the prices free of any restriction. Shukria Kohistani
