Dushanbe authorities introduce non-cash payment for the rental of textbooks for schoolchildren starting from August 1, Navrouz Mirzo, a spokesman for the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, this decision has already been agreed with the parents, education facilities and banks.  

Mirzo further noted that to-date, the non-cash payment for rental of textbooks is being introduced only in the capital city, but in the future it is planned to extend this practice to other regions as well.

The MoES spokesman said that the initiative is being taken as part of the implementation of government’s regulation on measures to expand cashless payments and president’s decree on measures to expand cashless payments.     

Recall, the state-run news agency Khovar reported on July11 that all Dushanbe-based government agencies are expected to use SmartPay program in their work beginning on August 1, 2023.  

The decision to shift all government agencies based in Dushanbe to the non-cash payment system reportedly aims to ensure payment of all taxes, duties, fines, license and insurance fees, fees for utilities and other types of public services for implementation of the first stage of the SmartPay program.

President Emomali Rahmon on June 22 signed a decree on measures to expand cashless payments in Tajikistan.  The Tajik president’s official website notes that in accordance with the decree, public services must be paid in non-cash form beginning on August 1, 2023.