With the intensity of winter and cold in capital city and other parts of the country, prices of gas, wood and other fuels have sharply increased and once again, there is present a great hue and cry in the society. Its direct victims are once again those limited income people whose incomes are same but who cannot arrange extra money due to this seasonal price hike. It is not necessary to mention here that same fluctuation or rise of prices in these fuel items are noticed every year in this season which greatly adds to the miseries of a common person. As a remedy for this, concerned government authorities get into action but their functionality never rises above some photo shoots or fining some shopkeepers. At the same time, it shows the absence of any kind of coordinated strategy or planning in this regard.

When the summer comes, the demand of these commodities sharply decline resulting in the decrease in their prices but with the arrival of winter, the demand also increases and it results in the increase in their prices. On the other, Afghanistan doesn’t have its own resources enough to meet its requirements and these items are imported from neighboring countries and as the harsh winter closes the ways and makes transportation difficult, the commodities also become scarce and prices rise.

It was needed that instead of taking some short-term actions that never come up with the targeted results, long term planning and arrangements could have been made that could have solved this problem on permanent basis. The government could have used its warehouses to keep their considerable reserves so that there should not be any kind of shortage in the winter. This constant and adequate supply could have also kept the prices under control.

There are also reports that some big market players have made a cartel to create an artificial shortage of these items so that they should sell these products on higher prices. The government needs to take action against these agents of illegal profiteering who are harming the smooth functioning of the economy. Government authorities must also plan to keep a constant supply of these items throughout the winter so that the artificial shortage and inflation in their prices may be avoided.

But all these will happen only if government agencies rise above their own benefits and work to protect the rights of a common consumer. In this regard, no kind of rewards and threats should be considered and fair practice should be given the priority.