KABUL (SW) – With the arrival of winter, a number of residents of the capital are complaining about the high prices of fuel, especially coal and wood, in the markets of Kabul city.
They say that they cannot afford to buy fuel due to poverty.
Ahmad Bayer, a daily wage worker in the “Musa Qala” area of Kabul city, says that the price of fuel is increasing day by day. He adds: “The price of fuel is high, how can we get it? The rains have started and we don’t have any money. The problem is unemployment, if there are jobs, everything can be favorable.”
Likewise, Ghulam, another resident of Kabul, who searches for work in different corners of the city every day, says: “Wood and coal are expensive, if one earns a bit, there could be no problem, but there is no work and the air is cool. We want the Islamic Emirate to pay attention to the prices.”
At the same time, a number of fuel sellers in Kabul say that this year the market for selling fuel has decreased significantly, but its price has increased compared to the same time last year. They add that last year, they sold up to 15 tons of wood or coal daily, but this year, due to the increase in the price of fuel and the poverty of the citizens, they only sell up to two barrels of fuel per day.
Mohammad Baqer, a wood seller in Chahar Qala area of Wazir Abad, Kabul, says that the market for selling wood has decreased. He adds: “We sell a gross of wood for 8,200 and 9,000 afghani, of course, people’s buyiing power is poor, they cannot buy. They have no money, people’s daily shopping is very weak compared to other years.”
Sayed Hashem, a coal seller, says: “People don’t have the power to buy. Every past year was good, five to 10 people came a day, but this year, in one day, we will sell one or two gross only. Every year at this time, we used to sell 10 to 20 gross.”
It should be mentioned that every year with the cold weather and high gas prices, citizens use wood and coal to heat their homes. But in the current year, the increase in the price of fuel will add to the problems of people who are struggling with poverty.
ENDS
