A recent increase in fuel prices has affected the business of taxi drivers who say they hardly earn an amount that cannot afford their daily needs.

The price for a liter of petrol is 72 Afs and it costs 90 Afs for a liter of diesel in Kabul markets as of Friday.

Drivers said the prices have surged at least 6 Afs in recent days.

“We can only earn to pay for the expenses of the taxi and cannot take even one loaf of bread home,” said Zabiullah, a taxi driver. 

“We call on the government to provide us with facilities and control price fuel and food prices in local markets,” said Zazai, a taxi driver. 

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said the mass fire in Salang Tunnel earlier this week in which many fuel tankers were burnt, has caused a surge in fuel prices in Kabul.

“It was a bad incident in Salang that led to the closure of the highway for eight days. You know that all materials between 60 to 70 percent are brought in from the north to Kabul,” said Khanjan Alokozai, a member of the ACCI. 

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) said fuel prices would be reduced in the near future. 

“Some prices have surged for a short period of time. Fortunately, yesterday, the Salang Tunnel was reopened, and we are assured that the prices of fuel will soon become normal,” said Abdul Salam Akhundzada, a spokesman for the MoIC.

According to the MoIC, food materials and fuel are mostly imported from Central Asian countries and Iran to Afghanistan.