DUSHANBE, August 18, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Antimonopoly commission has reported unfounded overpricing of food products at country’s bazaars.

The source at the antimonopoly commission says that despite the decision by the Dushanbe mayor’s office and the antimonopoly commission’s ruling on lowering prices of the basic food products during the holy month of Ramadan, instances of unfounded overpricing have been recorded at Dushanbe’s bazaars.  A special working group is currently controlling prices at local bazaars.

“Those who break the decision will have to pay a fee in an amount of 500 accounting indictors (an accounting indictor for this year has been set at 35.00 somoni),” the source said.   

We will recall that the Dushanbe mayor’s office decided on August 7 that basic food products should be sold at lower prices during the holy month of Ramadan, from August 11 to September 10.  Thus, the price of one kilogram of beef should not be higher than 18 somoni, the price of one kilogram of mutton – 19 somoni, the price for a 50-kilogram sack of grade 1 wheat flour should be sold for not more that 90 somoni.  Prices of vegetable oil, milk, eggs, rice, sugar, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, cabbages, grapes, and melon crops should be brought down by 15-20 percent during Ramadan.

The Dushanbe mayor ordered to exempt farmers selling their products at Dushanbe’s bazaars without resellers as well as entrepreneurs trading in essential goods from all fees or to cut them by 50 percent during the holy month of Ramadan.  The Dushanbe mayor’s office has also asked relevant bodies not to conduct inspections at Dushanbe’s bazaars during the month of Ramadan.