(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News)
KABUL (Pajhwok): Today marks the first day of 2022 and 2021 saw the afghani depreciating by more than 33 percent against the US dollar, while food prices jumped by more than 26 per cent and car fuel by 43 percent.
Considering the political changes in the country and freezing of over $9 billion in Afghan assets by the US, the Afghan currency against foreign currencies, especially the US dollar, depreciated.
depreciation of afghani against USD main challenge this year
Haji Hussein Malik, a moneychanger at Sara-i-Shahzada market in Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News that today one US dollar was accounted for 103 afghanis and 1,000 Pakistani rupees 530afs.
About three weeks ago, one US dollar was exchanged for 131 afghanis, but after the intervention of the central bank and some decisions by the government, the value of the afghani appreciated again.
Based on Pajhwok reports, one US dollar was accounted for 77.20afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees 480afs this date last year.
43.7 percent hike in petroleum prices
A worker of Ahmadyar Group Fuel Station told Pajhwok that today he sold a liter of petrol for 78afs and a liter of diesel for 71afs.
Mohammad Sharif, a gas seller in Kulula Pushta area of Kabul, said that today the price of a kilogram of liquefied gas is 82afs.
At the corresponding period last year, the price of a liter of petrol was 37afs and that of diesel 38afs. A kilogram of liquefied petroleum gas was sold 55afs last year.
Food prices increase by 35 percent
Zamarai Safi, head of Food Traders Union in Kabul, said that today (January 1, 2022) the wholesale price of a 49kg bag of Indian sugar was 4,100afs, a tin of 16 liters of Malaysian cooking oil 2,750afs, 49kg of Kazakhstani flour 2,400afs, a 24.5kg bag of Pakistani rice 2,500afs, a kilogram of Indonesian green tea 400afs and the same quantity of African black tea 400afs.
At the same time last year, the wholesale price of 49kg of Kazakhstani flour was 1,720afs, 49kg of Indian sugar 2,200afs, 16 liter of Malaysian cooking oil 1,55afs, 24.5kg of Pakistani rice at 2,400afs, and a kilogram of African black tea 340afs and the same quantity of Indonesian green tea 320afs.
The reason for the 35 percent increase in food prices compared to last year was due to depreciation of the afghani against the US dollar and the political and economic developments in the country.
Gold prices soar by 8.3 percent
Mohammad Javed, a jeweler in Kabul's Lycee Maryam Market, said that he sold one gram of Arabian gold for 3,750afs and the same quantity of Russian variety for 3,550afs.
He said that he sold one gram of Arabian gold for 3,750afs and the same quantity of Russian variety for 3,000afs last year.
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