DUSHANBE, June 11, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- President’s two-day working trip to the southern Khatlon province concluded on June 10.

During a visit to the province, President Emomali Rahmon noted that regional administrators had failed to properly use existing opportunities and reserves in the first five months of this year, according to presidential press service.  As a result of this, the province has failed to fulfill its receipt target on 10 types of taxes and the national budget has received 7 million somoni less.

His criticism, directed at local officials in the region, came during an address to a meeting of regional administrators in the city of Qurghon Teppa, the capital of Khatlon province on June10.

Rahmon noted that 12 districts in Khatlon had failed to meet revenue-collection targets and the republican budget had allocated 42 million somoni to support local budget over the report period.  The president ordered local authorities, customs and tax services to take immediate measures to improve the current situation.

Speaking at the meeting, the president also drew attention of those present to taking adequate measures to mitigate effects of the global financial crisis and create new jobs in the region, presidential press service said.