Members of Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Saturday summoned officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MoCI) and Afghanistan National Standard Authority (ANSA) over the import of substandard fuel and the increase of domestic fuel prices. 

The head of ANSA Naqibullah Faiq said in response to MPs questions that “fuel and gas mafia is stronger than government”.

Faiq said that although high octane fuel is supposed to be sold at fuel stations in Kabul, this is not happening and that a low grade fuel is being sold instead.

“The licenses of 58 companies have been canceled due to them importing low quality fuel. Sixteen companies (licenses) have been seized and we sent them to the commerce and industries ministry, because we do not have the authority to cancel their license,” said Faiq.

A number of MPs accused the relevant officials of negligence over monitoring fuel being imported and said low octane fuel is extremely dangerous.

“Dangerous materials are being imported to Afghanistan. This has been ongoing for many years and some people from inside the relevant offices are involved in this issue,” MP Simin Barekzai said. 

“All the fuel that is imported to Afghanistan is of poor-quality,” MP Habiba Sadat said.

“You must know that your job is to serve the nation. If you make money, it should be made in an honest way,” MP Fawzia Kofi said.

MoCI officials however said in answer to MPs concerns that they are trying to control the domestic sale of fuel and food. 

“A national competition board has been established to prevent the market being controlled by only a handful of people,” MoCI acting minister Feroz Khan Masjidi said. 

“In the two years that I have been here, we have stopped the prices from sharply increasing. If the prices have increased, I have come to you,” Walid Tamim, director of Fuel and Liquid Gas Enterprise told parliament. 

According to MPs, people are using the substandard fuel which produces dangerous emissions.