DUSHANBE, September 2, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Communist Party (CPT) leader Shodi Shabdolov, who is also member of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament, considers that protracted economic crisis is the main factor impeding wage raise in the country.

“Besides, many new enterprises that are introduced into operation in Tajikistan cannot compete with industrial giants from other countries,” said Shabdolov.  “These enterprises often suspend operations and the national budget receives funds less than it’s due.” 

CPT leader has also named costly vanity projects among factors impeding wage raise in Tajikistan this year.

“No one country in the world can afford to build the world’s biggest flagpole, the world’s largest teahouse or the Central Asia’s largest mosque and world class hotels when it has low living conditions and high rates of unemployment,” Shabdolov stressed.

We will recall that already home to world’s biggest flagpole, Tajikistan is expected to unveil the world’s largest chaikhana (teahouse) that is a beautiful multidomed structure with hand-carved designs in wood.  The teahouse has reportedly been built at an estimated cost of $60 million.

Construction of the Central Asia’s largest mosque is expected to be completed in Dushanbe in 2016.  President Emomali Rahmon began construction of the mosque not far from downtown Dushanbe in October 2011, a month after officially raising the country’s flag on the world’s tallest unsupported flagpole in Dushanbe.  The cost of the project is 100 million U.S. dollars and the Kingdom of Qatar is putting up 70 percent of the cost of the project, with Tajikistan raising the rest.  The mosque is expected to accommodate some 120,000 worshippers at a time.