Major administrative and territorial reforms have been approved in Samarkand Region, предусматривающие the abolition of Samarkand District and the revision of boundaries of Samarkand city as well as the Oqdaryo, Pastdarg‘om and Toyloq districts. The relevant resolution of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis was supported by members of parliament.
During a meeting of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People — the Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP) faction in the Legislative Chamber, it was emphasized that these changes are aimed at transforming Samarkand into a “million-population city.” The reforms focus on creating a modern urban environment, constructing residential and non-residential buildings with contemporary architectural solutions, fully meeting housing demand, and developing engineering and transport infrastructure.
It was noted that Samarkand District will be abolished as an independent administrative-territorial unit. This step is expected to improve governance efficiency and enable the integrated development of the city.
According to faction member Diyor Husanov, as a result of the boundary changes, the territory of Samarkand city will expand from 11.8 thousand hectares to 28.9 thousand hectares. This expansion will create significant opportunities for new investment and construction projects. Plans include the development of new tourism facilities, entertainment zones, playgrounds, water parks, recreational parks, hot air balloon projects, as well as the establishment of green areas, service facilities, and logistics centers.
Discussions on turning Samarkand into a city with a population exceeding one million have been ongoing since 2021. The initiative was first announced by the then regional governor, Erkinjon Turdimov.
In addition, during his visit to Samarkand Region in November 2025, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced large-scale administrative and territorial changes. He stated that a total of 17.5 thousand hectares of land from the Oqdaryo, Payariq, Pastdarg‘om, Toyloq and Samarkand districts would be incorporated into the territory of Samarkand city.
As a result of these changes, the population of Samarkand city is expected to increase from 604,000 to 882,000. This marks an important step toward transforming Samarkand into a modern metropolis with advanced infrastructure and a high standard of living.
Source: Kun.uz