DUSHANBE, January 14, 2015, Asia-Plus – More than 2 billion U.S. dollars are needed to provided Tajikistan’s population with safe drinking water, Alimurod Islomzoda, Director General of the State Unitary Enterprise Khojagii Manziliu Kommunali (KMK -- the state holding company for public utilities), told reporters in Dushanbe on January 14.

To-date, only 57 percent of the population has got access to safe drinking water, Islomzoda said, noting that it will take 85 years to provide the whole population of the country with safe drinking water.

“We have decided to set up the KMK Development Foundation in order to attract funds from international financial institutions,” KMK top manager said, expressing hope that the KMK Development Foundation will be set up this year.