DUSHANBE, October 24, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday October 23, the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) committees on agriculture and employment, energy, industries, construction and communications, as well as international affairs, public associations and information held a joint meeting to discuss a bill on the national budget for 2008.
Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, said that a working group had been set up for detailed study of the bill.
Parliamentarians offered to exempt grain imports from the value-added tax (VAT) and having regard to the world market rends to provide more funds for grain and fuel supplies to the country, the spokesman said.
They also offered to provide additional funds to ensure implementation of the national program on enhancement of land reclamation, fishery and breeding as well as completion of the construction of the Vexdara-2 and Tusyon small power plants in GBAO’s Roshtqala district.
The Committee on International Affairs, Public Associations and Information also proposed to leave 30 percent of VAT proceeds and 30 percent of income tax proceeds at disposal of local budgets of Khatlon’s cities of Qurghon Teppa and Sarband, as well as earmark funds for reconstruction of the road from Ayni to Kuhistoni Mastchoh and rehabilitation of the Konibodom water supply system.
The Majlisi Namoyandagon committees on family, healthcare and ecology, as well as science, education, culture and youth policy held their meetings to discuss the draft national budget for 2008 today.
Members of the Majlisi Namoyandagon committee on family, healthcare and ecology proposed to provide targeted allocation of funds for treatment of persons suffering from ischemic heart disease. According to them, more than 1,000 people in Tajikistan need such assistance.
They also suggested that 475,000 somonis should be earmarked for heart stanting operations for 50 people. One such operation costs $2,756.
Members of the committee on science, education, culture and youth policy proposed to review the rate of the cotton-fiber sale tax, because Tajikistan is expected to reach only 78 percent of its national cotton target, which has been determined at 550,000 tons of cotton.
According to them, it is also necessary to review funds earmarked by the draft budget for construction of a number of schools in the Roshtqala, Ishkashim and Nourobod districts.
