DUSHANBE, April 30, Asia-Plus - President Emomali Rahmon presided over a government session on April 27.

According to presidential press service, the meeting focused on issues related to socioeconomic development of the country. 

Finance Minister Najmuddin Safaraliyev reported on the main economic indices.

President Rahmon urged to submit a draft national budget for 2008 and perspective prognosis of national budget for 2009-2010 for consideration to the government before September.  He stressed that that the draft budget should really provide for results of economic development, growth in incomes of all cities and districts, taxpayers as well as all tax sources. 

The head of state also set tasks on planning national policy of development of land reclamations and rational use of water, rehabilitation of electrical pump stations, water supply, regulation of construction of riverbank-protection works, development of new lands and creation of new jobs.

The government also adopted a resolution on transit crossing of Tajikistan’s territory by international transport means and construction of international border automotive terminals, presidential press service said.

The session also decided to send for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) the bills on the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO or Gorno Badakhshan), state regulation and circulation of some types of oil products, transplantation of human organs, as well as draft amendments to 20 laws and the country’s Tax Code.

The government also endorsed the draft agreement between Tajikistan’s ministry of interior (MoI) and Russia’s federal drug control services (FSKN) on cooperation in fighting drug trafficking and the draft cooperation agreement between statistics agencies of Tajikistan and Azerbaijan.                          

The government adopted the resolution providing for allowances for schoolchildren from poor families.  Under this resolution, pupils from poor families will receive allowance in the amount of one minimal wage each twice a year.  The budget earmarks 12 million somonis to pay the allowances, presidential press service said.          

The session also considered some personnel issues.  By government’s resolution Rajabmad Amirov, who had served as Minister of Culture before December 2006, was appointed to head Tajikistan’s National Conservatoire.  Besides, Sadullo Talbakov was appointed director general of the State Unitary Enterprise Tajiktekstilmash.  

Emomali Rahmon once again drew attention of those present to the necessity of regulating practicing rituals of national traditions.