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Turkistan is preparing to be granted special city status

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed a government resolution on submitting the draft law on the special status of Turkistan city to the Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, for consideration, reported the Prime Minister’s press service on May 30.

The legislation outlines the legal framework for Turkistan's elevation as Kazakhstan's spiritual, cultural, and historical hub, recognizing its national importance. This move will establish robust mechanisms for managing and conserving the city's historical and cultural treasures, including those within the protected zone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site housing the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi.

Additionally, the bill aims to preserve and revive Turkistan's cultural heritage, promote traditional crafts, and foster its identity as a spiritual, cultural, historical, and touristic center. The Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum, a towering Islamic architectural wonder built during Timur's reign, serves as a repository of Kazakhstan's history, housing thousands of medieval artifacts. It also holds the tombs of various Kazakh khans and dignitaries. Recognizing its significance, Turkistan was named the spiritual capital of the Turkic world in 2021 by the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States.(Source:astanatimes)