خبرونه - سوداګري

The Afghan government has decided to monitor the sale of oil by the private sector, Ministry of Commerce and Industries said on Saturday.

The Ministry said it had previously started monitoring the sale of heating gas in the market and that it will now start monitoring the sale of oil, especially diesel sold by the private sector.

The decision comes as oil prices, especially diesel increased in Afghan markets.

The Ministry had earlier called for a decrease in oil prices, but the private sector did not heed making the government start monitoring fuel prices.

Currently a liter of diesel is sold at 65 Afghanis (around $1.5).

"This is the first time that we have decided to monitor the private sector to control fuel prices. We have decided to shut down pump stations if they keep overcharging people."

Head of Oil and Gas Enterprise department of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Faridullah Shirzai, said.

The Ministry said it has newly received ten thousand tonnes of oil from Russia and may start distributing it to the private sector to help bring down fuel prices.