DUSHANBE, October 23, Asia-Plus  -- Committees and commissions of the lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of Tajik parliament have begun discussing a draft national budget for 2008.  

Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, said that the Majlisi Namoyandagon committees on economy, finance and taxes, legislation and human rights, as well as on state construction and local government held meetings to discuss the draft budget on October 22.  

Representatives from relevant ministries and organizations also attended the meeting.

Motions introduced by parliamentarians concerned, primarily. social, agrarian, and education sectors, as well as training of skilled personnel for the country’s law enforcement agencies, the spokesman said.  

The meetings also considered issues related to rising prices of a number of basic food products, including wheat flour, in the country.  Parliamentarians suggested that these products should be exempted from the value added tax (VAT).