KULOB, May 12, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The branch of Tajikistan’s savings bank, Amonatbonk, in Kulob has begun to pay pensions and allowances for April-May to pensioners that were affected by a May 7 flood.

Head of Amoantbonk’s branch in Kulob Olim Akramov says they began to pay pensions on May 11 and by Wednesday afternoon they have paid 50,000 somoni in pensions and allowances.  “Many of pensioners have lost their pension books during the disaster and we are issuing new pensioner’s certificates to them,” Akramov said.

The payment of two-month pensions and allowances to the disaster-hit pensioners is expected to be finished in the coming two-three days.  “The Agency for Social Protection of the Population and Pensions has promised to provide all necessary funds,” Akramov added.