KABUL (PAN): The Ministry of Commerce and Industries on Saturday renewed its promise to lower the price of liquefied petroleum gas to 55 afghanis ($1.1) per kilo within two days. A kilo of gas is currently selling for 75 to 100 afs in Kabul.
Before EidulAdha, a kilogram of gas accounted for 55afs, but the rate suddenly shot up to 100 afs after the festival. With the onset of winter, the abrupt hike has triggered complaints from city dwellers.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, WahidullahGhazikhel, said liquefied gas tankers were not being allowed to enter Kabul due to tight security arrangement for the Loya Jirga.
Abdul TawabSamadzai, a resident of the DehMazang locality, said the price had increased to 75afs due to a shortage of gas in Kabul. But a dweller of the Qala-i-Wahid area, Faisal Stanikzai, said the same amount cost 80afs.
One kg of gas sold for 80afs in Company and DehAfghananneighbourhoods, while the price ranged between 80 and 90afs in Ahmad Shah Mena and Pul-i-Charkhi areas. A resident of the locality, Hekmatullah, complained the quality of gas had declined.
Dasht-i-Barchi, Bagh-i-Bala, Char Qala, Wazirabad and ChehlSatoon dwellers said they purchased a kilogram of gas for 90 afs. MatiullahStanikzai, hailing from the Gardani area of Bagh-i-Bala, said one kilogram of gas accounted for 100afs.
The ministry spokesman said the tankers would be allowed to enter the city on Sunday, when the gas price would decline to 55afs. One reason for the high price was the increase in crude oil prices in the international market, he said.
Link: http://ow.ly/rjNBl
