Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that representatives of district khyakimlik’s office demand that owners of stores, pharmacies and consumer services offices which are located on the ground floors of buildings in Ashgabat install blackened tapes on the windows.
When asked by the owners of sales outlets why this requirement has been issued, the official authorities fail to provide any comprehensible response and refer to the verbal instructions issued by higher-ranking authorities.
This is not the first attempt of the municipal authorities to unify retail outlets.In 2016 the owners of the stores located in basements of apartment blocks were urged to remodel store entrances at their own expense so that they comply with standards developed by the authorities.
Moreover, with a view of “improving the architectural image of the capital” the authorities of Ashgabat obliged residents to install blackened tape on the windows of the superior design apartment buildings “to according to the sample, approved by the head of the architectural and urban planning department of Ashgabat khyakimlik’s office”.
It should be emphasized that the news outlet ANT has previously reported that owners of privately-owned shops in Ashgabat were urged to install a black tape on the windows and remove advertising signs.
According to the news outlet, the commissions comprised of representatives of district khyakimlik’s offices, public health office and police, are responsible for inspecting the windows.