DUSHANBE, May 12, 2011, Asia-Plus — Dushanbe police have reported detention of at least ten meatmen in the city for selling meats at overstated prices.
Qudratullo Ghulomov, chief of staff of the Dushanbe police directorate, says three dishonest meatmen were detained yesterday alone.
“In Firdavsi district, meatman Rahmatullo T. was detained on May 11 while selling lamb at 27.00 somoni per kilogram,” said Ghulomov, “On the same day, meatman Ashourali S. was detained in Firdavsi district for selling beef at 27.00 somoni per kilogram. Besides, meatman Idibek S. was detained in Ismoili Somoni district for selling beef at 27.00 somoni per kilogram.”
According to him, appropriate materials have been drawn against the dishonest meatmen and a decision on penalty for them will be made in the near future.
We will recall that issues related to reduction in prices for some basic food products at local bazaars were a major topic of a meeting of the Dushanbe mayor’s office that took place on May 7. Taking into account the findings of monitoring conducted at the city’s bazaars, the Dushanbe municipal government reportedly called on market traders to lower the prices they charge for flour and meats, following a spike in prices of basic food products.
Merchants running butcher’s shops at local bazaars have been recommended to sell beef at no more than 23.00 somoni per one kilogram and lamb at no more than 24.00 somoni per one kilogram.
The price of meat two weeks ago was about 21 somoni. The beef and lamb prices rose at the end of last week to 27 and 30 somoni per kilogram, an increase of some 33 percent.
By mayor’s decision 20 Dushanbe’s entrepreneurs dealing with butchery received 50,000 somoni interest-free loan each on May 10. Besides, Tojikmatloubot (consumers” cooperative association) and the state unitary enterprise, Dushanbe’s Markets and Trade, also received interest-free loans — a 2 million somoni loan was given to Tojikmatloubot and a 1 million somoni loan was given to Dushanbe’s Markets and Trade. These funds have been provided to stabilize the meat prices at the city’s bazaars.
