DUSHANBE, January 15, Asia-Plus  -- Fayzullokhon Isupov, chairman of Dushanbe’s Firdavsi district, on January 15 gave a news conference on district’s economic results in 2007.   

According to him, the number of industrial enterprises in the district increased from 54 in 2006 to 56 in 2007.  “Last year, the Firdavsi district produced a total of 84 million somonis worth of industrial output,” the district chairman said, noting that 98 percent (78 million somois) of the produced goods had been realized.       

 He also said that the target on collection of taxes had been overfulfilled by 3 percent and the expenditure part of the district’s budget had been implemented.   

As of January 1, 2008, an average monthly wage in the Firdavsi district has amounted 249 somonis, which is 115 somonis more than in 2006, Isupov said.   

On the preparations of utilities for work during winter months, the district chairman noted that 164 facilities, including 140 residential buildings, 6 general schools, 4 preschool institutions and 2 medical facilities, have to date been provided with heating and hot water.  

Isupov noted that the district budget last year earmarked 157,966 somonis to pay allowances to vulnerable families.  “In 2007, the district budget paid to poor families 45,600 somonis in power subsidies and 76,400 somonis in natural-gas subsidies.”   

 On the housing stock, the Firdavsi district head said that 99.9 percent of apartments in Dushanbe had been privatized.