Residents of Kandahar province say rising fuel prices have made it increasingly difficult for families to cope with winter, compounding already severe economic pressures.
Local market prices show that a kharwar (about 560 kg) of firewood is selling for between 9,000 and 12,000 afghanis ($125–$167), while a tonne of coal costs between 10,000 and 15,000 afghanis, residents and traders said. Liquefied gas is priced at around 55 afghanis per kilogram, petrol at 54 afghanis per litre and diesel at 56 afghanis per litre.
“The prices of gas and fuel have gone up. Everything is expensive, and we are facing serious difficulties,” said Din Mohammad, a Kandahar resident.
Others said low-income households were struggling to afford basic heating supplies as temperatures fall.
“With the cold weather, things like gas and fuel that are used in winter have become expensive. Many people simply cannot afford them,” said Samiullah, another resident.
Drivers also said higher fuel costs were cutting into already limited earnings. “Fuel prices are high and our income is not enough,” said Khan Mohammad, a driver who operates on the Kandahar-Kabul route. “Passengers bargain down fares, but fuel costs keep rising.”
Afghanistan’s fragile economy, weakened by years of conflict, high unemployment and reduced foreign aid, has left many households vulnerable to price increases, particularly during winter when demand for heating fuel rises sharply.
