DUSHANBE, September 14, Asia-Plus -- Tajik authorities are taking measures to lower prices for wheat flour and bread in the country, Asia-Plus has learned from the First Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, Amonullo Ashour.

According to him, a special commission for controlling flour prices will start it work in Dushanbe already today.  

The deputy minister noted that if the pricing policy is broken and excessively high prices for wheat flour and bread are set on the markets, local authorities will introduce strict measures against violators.  

At the same time, Ashour noted that there are objective reasons for increase in pries of flour in the country.  “More than 60 percent of grain used in Tajikistan is imported from neighboring countries,” Ashour said.    

He added that a working commission, comprising representatives from the ministries of economy and agriculture of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, yesterday discussed the issue of concluding an agreement on purchase of 150,000 tons of grain from Kazakhstan on preferential terms.  

“It is to be noted that wheat-flour exports now are regulated by Kazakhstan legislation and require prior approval in the form of an export license that has automatically led to increase in prices,” said he.  “In this connection, our ministry has submitted its proposals on lowering the bread prices to the government for consideration.  One of these proposals provides for canceling VAT on grain imports.”   

“Annual requirements in flour per capita are 137 kilograms, and over the past eight months the country’s requirements in flour have been 972,700 tons,” the deputy minister said.