The Committee for National Reconciliation has endorsed those candidacies, which must now be approved by President Imomali Rakhmonov. Economic situation Tajikistan experienced the disappearance of the previous economic system together with the effects of the civil war. The economic and social upheaval caused by these circumstances has been compounded by Tajikistan s geographical isolation. The country suffered a severe drop in demand for much of the industrial production, largely due to high transport costs from Tajikistan to other republics and the discontinuation of Soviet states orders. As a result, with few exceptions, Tajikistan s once thriving industrial plants lie idle.
Many industries operate at less than a quarter of the previous capacity.
Shortages of fuel, frequent cuts in utilities, the absence of employment opportunities, the breakdown of health and educational services and facilities, and the market decline of law and order have caused immense hardship to urban and rural populations. This has sparked an economic migration including prominently most educated and skilled persons. Two thirds of the population of 5.9 million reside in rural areas and depend on the agricultural economy. Only seven percent of the territory is arable land suitable for agriculture. Some of this land is marginal and has suffered ecological degradation.