DUSHANBE, March 7, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- By proposal of the speaker of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) a draft law on coal mining has been removed from the agenda of the Majlisi Namoyandagon sitting.

A regular sitting of the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its speaker, Shukurjon Zuhurov, took place on March 7.

Speaking at the meeting, Shukurjon Zuhurov said that he proposed to remove the bill from the agenda because of absence of Minister of Energy and Industries Gul Sherali.  “I have repeatedly stated that draft laws dealing with any specific sector will not be considered if the head of the appropriate ministry is absent for no reason,” the speaker noted.

According to him, MPs have many questions to ask the minister of energy and industries.  “Moreover, energy and industry are one of the problem sectors in the country,” Zuhurov stressed.

MP Shodi Shabdolov, who is one of authors of the cola mining law, says it aims to promote achievement of energy independence and creation of new jobs in the country.