Hike in inter-city fares irk citizens

KABUL (SW): Amid growing joblessness, a number of citizens have expressed concerns over the hike in inter-city fares.

A number of citizens heading to the Northern provinces told Salam Watandar that the private transport firms have increased the fares manifolds. This is despite the fact that the fuel prices have dropped significantly.

Waheedullah and Qand Agha, two such passengers, while lamenting the price hike said that the relevant government departments do not monitor the transportation fares at all.

Hikmatullah Qwanch, spokesman for the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, said in this regard that the previous fares were decided in consultation with the relevant quarters. He promised that soon the fares would be reviewed.

Some transporters, particularly those operating within the city, have said that they have already brought a change in the fares. Juma Khan, a Kabul city transporters said that they have cut the fares by some 40 percent thanks to the sliding petroleum prices.

Meanwhile, Musafar Qoqandi, spokesman for the Ministry of Trade and Commerce (MoTC) argued that since only the prices of raw fuel have fallen in the international market, Afghanistan could not benefit much as it only exports the refined fuel.

He told Salam Watandar that a number of taxes and duties lead to addition in the prices of fuel finally sold in the market.

ENDS