Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Price-hike on the Eve of Holy Ramadan Month

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Price-hike on the Eve of Holy  Ramadan Month

Unfortunately, the chaos of free-market always pressurizes people during the Eid days, New Year’s days, the month of Ramadan, winter season, and other events. Now, on the eve of holy Ramadan month, the people of Afghanistan are expecting such a condition and so trying to purchase things before the holy month enter, but those families who do not afford to buy beforehand are concerned about the rise of prices in the free market which felt its initial effects. for example, a Few days ago, the price of one kg of chicken meat was less than 200Af, but now it has become it is about 240/50af.  Accordingly, the price of cooking oil has also increased with nearing the holy month of Ramadan
Although the month of Ramadan is the month of blessings, forgiveness, kindness, brotherhood, and love of humanity, the people are also pressurized by with acceleration of war and conflicts in the country. 
This shows that the soul and content of Islamic teaching have died in our society and we just stuck on the apparent stratum of Islam with habitual practicing the apparent symbol of Islam. As pointed out, the month of Ramadan is the month of forgiveness, kindness, brotherhood and so it is expected from the national traders to help the people, not further pressurize them. If we cannot help the people on hard days, we must not deprive them of the food to survive. Unfortunately, contrary to all these expectations and values, the monopolist groups of the free market and also the terrorist groups increase their oppression in the country.
The disorder of free-market also shows the indifference of the government against this problem. In fact, the disorder of the free market is not a new issue in Afghanistan.
Nearly ten years ago, it inflicted its first blow with a sharp increase in the price of basic goods in the country but at that time, it was justified with different fallacies such as the tide of world economic crisis, while after the world economic crisis the issue has not solved in the country.  The upward trend of prices has unstoppably continued while no enough monetary changes have happened in the income of fixed salary takers.
For example, one decade ago, the price of one kg liquid gas was around 35Afs in the Kabul market but now it is around 60 Af. The price of 50kg flour was about 900Af but now it is around 1800 Af.  The price of 16 kg cooking oil was about 900 but now it is about 1700 Af. The price of 30 eggs was about 120 Af but now it is around 250 Af.
The next blow of the free market was felt during the first wave of corona-virus in Afghanistan.
After identification of the first positive case of corona-virus in the country, the prices of the hygienic and foodstuffs have sharply increased and even some of the prices never restored yet.
As result, many people were deprived of basic needs making the poor poorer and rich richer.  Accordingly, social crimes, poverty level, and class distances have been steadily increased in the country. Despite these many anarchies, no legal mechanism has created to ensure the stability of the free-market reviving justice in the market.
Unlike other countries, the richer and the capital of richer did not have any positive impact on society. Instead of playing a productive role or creating jobs, they built some skyscraper buildings promoting the rent economy or made their utmost attempt in exporting low-quality goods from foreign countries. With passing every moment, the number of the population is increasing but the number of jobs and economic productivities are not.  Based on the latest methodic report 72% of Afghan people fell under the poverty line.
As an immediate solution, the respective institutions need to make sure that all people have equal access to enough food needed during the month of Ramadan. In this step, the government has to establish a specific unit so as to regularly supervise the free market system because the misuses from the free-market system have been frequently repeated in Afghanistan and so the government needs to have regular supervision from the free market.
Meanwhile, the people should also be coordinated with the government. As soon as the people and the respective units feel some signs of oppressive behavior in the market, it must immediately interfere.
As a long-term solution, we must not repeat our mistakes that we made in post-Bonn Afghanistan. Since the recognition of the free-market system until now, it has been putting pressure on people in one way or another. Therefore, we must understand that the invisible hand of Adam Smith is manipulated by the invisible hands of usurers through establishment of oppressive cartels and trusts. Unfortunately, Adam Smith did not consider that human with using their rational power is able to manipulate the natural trend of the free market.
Today, there is no absolute free market system in the world. The modern world economic systems are combined with socialism, communism, mercantilism, defense-mercantilism, and also liberalism. The historic experiences show that a solitary system is neither successful and nor practicable in today’s politicized world. It also means that any black and white interpretation market system produce either indifferences or extravagance. Today, the most liberal countries of the world like European countries provide minimum social welfare to all. Though their formal system is largely based on liberalism and a free-market system they are carefully watchful so as to prevent any abuses that may be caused by free-market system or any optimistic views.

Mohammad Zahir Akbari is the permanent writer of the Daily Outlook Afghanistan. He can be reached at mohammadzahirakbari@gmail.com

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