DUSHANBE, July 18, 10212, Asia-Plus — Issues related to regulation of prices of basic food products during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan were a major topic of a July 17 meeting of the Dushanbe municipal administration, presided over by Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev.
Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor’s office says, the meeting decided to lower prices of basic food products during the holy month of Ramadan by consent of entrepreneurs, members of the Dushanbe legislature and other relevant bodies.
“Bazaar merchants were recommended to sell beef at 29.00 somoni per one kilogram, lamb at 30.00 somoni per one kilogram, vegetable oil at up to 8.00 somoni per liter, local rice at up to 7.00 somoni per kilogram, sugar at up to 5.00 somoni per kilogram, milk at up to 3.00 somoni per liter, potatoes at up to 2.00 per kilogram, carrots at up to 2.20 somoni per kilogram, onions at up to 1.10 somoni per kilogram and eggs at up to 60 dirams per piece,” the spokesman said.
In early July, Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev reportedly called on imam-khatibs of Dushanbe’s mosques to promote reduction in prices of basic food items during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
We will recall that the Dushanbe authorities took unpopular measures last year to curb food price hikes. The mayor of Dushanbe in May last year called on market traders to lower the prices they charged for flour, beef, and lamb, following a spike in the cost of basic food items. Food prices in Tajikistan rose dramatically last year due to increase in the price of fuel and the U.S. dollar”s rise against the local currency. At least ten butchers were arrested and questioned in Dushanbe in May last year for failing to comply with a recommendation by the mayor’s office to lower the meat prices.
