Residents in Kabul are voicing frustration over rising prices for heating materials as winter nears, with costs for essential firewood surging up to 4,000 Afghanis compared to last year. The spike is putting significant strain on families already grappling with economic challenges.
“A 560-kilogram bundle of oak wood now costs 13,000 Afghanis, while other wood types are priced between 7,000 and 9,000,” said Mohammad Qasim, a Kabul resident. “We urge the government to set some controls, or at least establish a pricing standard. Many people here are too poor to afford this.”
Kabul’s firewood sellers confirm the sharp increase. Prices for a 560-kilogram load have risen from around 8,000 Afghanis last winter to between 12,000 and 14,000 Afghanis this year, according to Rahmanullah, a vendor. “Last year, we sold it for six or seven thousand; now it’s nearly double. People are desperate, and many don’t have work,” he said.
The surge in heating costs comes as restrictions on the transfer of oak and pine wood have increased. “I’ve been in this business for 16 years, and this year it’s worse,” said Farid, another firewood seller. “We can only source local wood from districts like Farza and Shakardara in Kabul, as well as Jalalabad.”
Faced with unaffordable heating costs, some Kabul residents say they are resorting to burning plastic and other materials to stay warm. This has raised concerns about worsening air quality in the capital, which already struggles with severe pollution during winter months.
