KABUL, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The municipality of the Afghan capital Kabul has decided to subsidize coal for residents as the winter cold sets in, a local official said Saturday.
According to Nematullah Barakzai, head of Kabul municipality publications, in cooperation with the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, the municipality has undertaken the program of subsidizing and distributing coal to Kabul citizens to keep warm as part of efforts to support financially disadvantaged families.
"Thousands of tons of burning coal will be supplied and distributed to citizens through three selling points in 22 districts of Kabul next week," Barakzai said.
"The program aims to support poor families in Kabul as the price of burning coal has doubled due to massive exports to neighboring countries," he added. ■