DUSHANBE, March 15, Asia-Plus -- of 120 markets officially registered in Tajikistan, only the market in Istaravshan district (Sughd province) meets the standard requirements, the “Tojikstandart” (Tajik agency for standardization and metrology) director, Davlatali Hotamov, announced at a briefing in Dushanbe on March 14.   

This market was built and put into operation at the northern town of Istaravshan in mid-2005.

According to Mr. Hotamov, beginning from month, heads of all markets in the republic are obliged to take measures to improve territories of their markets in order that they will meet the fixed requirements.  

“For example, the place for realization of goods should meet requirements of safety, including fire-preventive measure and sanitary requirements,” the “Tojikstandart” director said.  

Besides, the markets should parking places, places where customers could take a rest, as well as safes, in which customer could leave the purchased goods.  

“All this work will be finished probably in five years or even more,” said Hotamov, “But we have to do at least 10 percent of this work already this year.”

According to him, the markets will be brought into compliance with the standards’ requirements at the expenses of their own revenues but not at the expense of entrepreneurs working on them.