Nurlan Baybazarov, the Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, recently revealed to the media that the country is contemplating the addition of 18 new cities to its geographical landscape, zakon.kz reports.
Legislative Changes
Under current legislation, villages boasting a population exceeding 10,000 residents are eligible for city status within a span of three years. The recent amendment to the law, implemented in 2021, paved the way for this potential expansion.
As per the words of the politician, in all of those 18 villages, there is a population exceeding 30,000 residents.
Presently, regional authorities are deliberating on appeals received from local governing bodies, known as maslikhats, regarding the elevation of certain settlements to city status.
Evaluation Process
Vice Minister of National Economy, Bauyrzhan Kudaibergenov, elucidated that maslikhats and regional authorities will conduct comprehensive assessments to determine the feasibility of altering the status of these settlements.
The opinions of the local populace will be taken into consideration during this evaluation process. It is anticipated that deliberations on this matter will commence this year, marking the initial steps towards potential city designation.
Decline in Rural Settlements
Against the backdrop of urbanization, Kazakhstan has witnessed a gradual decline in the number of rural settlements over the past decade. Approximately 582 rural units have been amalgamated or absorbed into neighboring villages, leading to a reduction in the overall count. This trend underscores the shifting demographics and preferences among Kazakhstan's population.
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