KABUL (SW) – Kabul residents have been puzzled by an alarming hike in the prices of many basic commodities amid growing poverty and joblessness.
In conversation with Salam Watandar, a number of Kabul residents complained that many people can not afford to buy the food they need, and if the increase in food prices is not stopped, a catastrophe will occur in the coming winter.
A number of shopkeepers acknowledged the increase in food prices, citing the increase in the value of the dollar against theafghani as the reason.
Saeed Kamal Farid Safi, head of the Kabul Foodstuffs Trading Union, claimed the reason for the rise in food prices was the rising dollar against the Afghani.
However Khan Jan Alakozay, a member of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries told Salam Watandar that in addition to the rising value of the dollar against the afghani, problems with the banking system and the freeze on state reserves were among the reasons for rising food prices.
Alokozay added: “All the bank accounts have been closed, and the political and economic probles have arisen, even our accounts have been closed. Because we are an importing country, during these 20 years we have not been able to build our domestic capacity and balance the import and export. These are the reasons why prices are rising in the markets.”
In the last few days, the value of the dollar against the afghani has skyrocketed. With the price of the dollar rising, the price of a bag of wheat flour has surged beyond AFN 3000.
ENDS
