DUSHANBE, July 31, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- A July 30 session of the government, presided over by President Emomali Rahmon, considered some 50 issues, according to presidential press service.   

The meeting, in particular, discussed activities of units for implementation of the public management improvement projects.  Four projects, totaling 81 million somonis (equivalent to $23.5 million), aimed at improvement of public management and activities of the customs and statistics services have been implemented in the country and one project for an amount of 1 million somonis was already successfully completed.  

Speaking at the session, the president expressed dissatisfaction with the low pace of implementation of the customs service reform project and ordered heads of relevant bodies to remove existing shortcomings within three months and submit report on the work done to the government. 

The session also considered and endorsed amendments proposed to some laws and decided to submit them for consideration to the parliament.    

The government also approved a number of intergovernmental agreements signed with Ukraine, Algeria, India, Belgium, the United States and member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).  

The session also considered draft regulations on creation of the free economic zone (FEZ) “Panj” in the Khatlon province.  It was decided to submit it for consideration to the parliament.   

The president demanded at the meeting that work on construction of the Sangtuda-1 power plant and the tunnels Istiqlol, Shar-Shar, and Shahriston should be speeded up.