Food Prices Surge in Parwan Amid Continued Closure of Trade Passages with Pakistan
As trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain closed, residents and merchants in Parwan province report a significant increase in food prices, an escalation that they say has severely impacted daily family life.
Shopkeepers state that the price of a 16-liter oil container has risen by about 500 Afghanis, sacks of rice by up to 700 Afghanis, and sacks of flour by 400 Afghanis. They note that the 16-liter oil container, which previously sold for around 1,550 Afghanis, has now exceeded 2,000 Afghanis.
According to sellers, the price of a sack of rice has risen from 2,300 to 3,000 Afghanis, and the cost of a sack of flour has increased from 1,400 to 1,800 Afghanis. They emphasize that reduced imports and market instability have paved the way for these price surges in essential goods.
Alongside merchants, several Parwan residents complain of decreased incomes, lack of employment opportunities, and the inability to meet daily needs. They explain that consecutive price hikes continue at a time when people’s purchasing power has drastically diminished.
This situation is not confined to Parwan alone; reports indicate that food prices are also rising in other provinces, especially in the capital. Critics argue that the Taliban administration has yet to take effective measures to manage the price crisis or address the consequences of the closed trade routes. Meanwhile, people remain hopeful for the reopening of these vital passages with Pakistan.
