DUSHANBE, April 27, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Under conditions of the global financial crisis, curbing prices and rates is one of the most topical measures, Dr. Hojimuhammad Umarov, who is deputy leader of the Mahmadruzi Iskandarov-run Democratic Party (DPT), remarked during presentation of the DPT’s anticrisis program in Dushanbe on April 27.

According to him, rise in prices of consumer goods and services cannot be allowed under the conditions of a sharp decrease in aggregate incomes of households.  “Prices of basic food products such as breads, milk and meat products, vegetable oil and sugar should be frozen and electricity and other communal services'' rates should not be raised,” the expert said.

On the fuel deliveries, he noted that the government should combat any manifestations of monopolistic and oligopolistic practices ad set prices in accordance with dynamics of oil and oil product prices in the world market.  Besides, the government should fight companies that are raising prices and rates artificially through use of multimediatory mechanisms.  “For example, high passenger fares on flights operated by Tajik Air are justified by high prices of air fuel that have been formed due to artificially created mediation,” Professor Umarov said.

He further added that that the government should also control that domestic prices of food products, clothes and building materials should adequately respond to decrease in of the word prices.