The governor of Sughd province, Rajab Ahmadzoda, said the main reason for the prolonged delay in building the city of Sayhun is a lack of budget funds. He made the statement during a press conference in Khujand, the capital of Sughd province, in early February.

According to him, completing the project requires substantial financing, particularly for the construction of basic infrastructure.

“Significant funds are needed to build the necessary infrastructure, including water supply, sewage systems, electricity and drinking water. We do not have such large resources in the budget. First of all, we must address the existing shortcomings,” Ahmadzoda said.

He added that investment projects aimed at solving the settlement’s problems have already been prepared and presented to potential investors.

“I am confident that we will resolve this issue,” the governor noted.

The city of Sayhun was intended to become the first city built in the Sughd province during Tajikistan’s independence.

The project was proposed in response to the rapid population growth in the region’s largest cities. President Emomali Rahmon on March 24, 2015 laid the cornerstone of a new modern city in the Somghor area of the Bobojon-Ghafourov district.

This city for more than 40,000 families or some 250,000 people, named Sayhun after a nearby river, was planned to be built on a 14,000-hectare desert land, about 15 kilometers from Khujand.  

The plan included the construction of 19 residential districts, 17 schools, 31 kindergartens, about 140 commercial and service centers, 40 sports facilities, a passenger transport terminal, markets and other social infrastructure.

In addition, more than 1,000 hectares of land near the city were allocated for fruit orchards using drip irrigation systems.

In 2015, the first stone was laid for the construction of multi-story residential buildings, and two pumping stations began operating. In May of the same year, the then chairman of the Sughd province, Abdurahmon Qodiri, who was considered one of the project’s initiators, reviewed the plans for the future buildings.

At the time, authorities promised that the first facilities would be completed by September 2016.

However, more than a decade later the city has still not been built. Meanwhile, dozens of families who received land for private housing and orchards installed water and electricity at their own expense.

Digital transformation of government services in Tajikistan is gaining momentum, with one of the key developments being the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Tax Committee's operations. In'omjon Saidullayev, a representative of the IT department of the Tax Committee, told about how these technologies are changing tax administration and what benefits they offer to citizens and businesses.

What role does AI play in the Tax Committee's digital transformation?

"AI is primarily a tool for increasing transparency and efficiency in our operations," Saidullayev explains. "We are implementing AI both in external electronic services for citizens and businesses, as well as in internal analytical processes. Our goal is to reduce administrative procedures, speed up data processing, and minimize human error."

What changes have ordinary citizens experienced so far?

One of the most noticeable innovations is the intelligent registration system for individuals in their personal account without the need to visit tax offices. The algorithms automatically verify the data, cross-check it with state registers, and identify any discrepancies. This significantly reduces registration times and simplifies the process.

How is security ensured during online registration or when updating personal information, like phone numbers?

"We use multi-factor authentication and behavioral analysis," Saidullayev explains. "The system tracks the user's activity history and automatically detects any suspicious behavior. This ensures a high level of protection for personal data."

What opportunities has AI provided to businesses?

"Through their personal accounts, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs can obtain duplicates of their state registration documents, register their Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), or carry out re-registration. AI automatically checks the accuracy of the submitted data, analyzes the business structure, and generates decisions without inspector involvement. This speeds up the provision of services considerably."

Balancing security and accessibility in digital services

"As more services shift to mobile platforms, what steps is the Tax Committee taking in this direction?"

"We’ve implemented the ability to register individual entrepreneurs via the mobile app 'Andozi Man,'" said Saidullayev. "Document recognition technologies and intelligent identity verification allow entrepreneurs to set up their businesses fully online. This simplifies the process of starting a business and supports the development of small businesses."

Is AI used in the internal processes of the Tax Committee?

"Yes, it is actively used," Saidullayev confirms. "For example, in property taxation, we apply intelligent algorithms during the inventory and re-registration of individuals' real estate. The system compares data from various government sources, identifies discrepancies, and helps create an up-to-date tax base. This improves tax collection and strengthens financial discipline."

How is data protection and infrastructure secured during these processes?

"We use a hybrid architecture," Saidullayev explains. "Sensitive data and risk analytics are processed within a secure local infrastructure (on-premise). Meanwhile, some online services operate using cloud technologies. This approach strikes a balance between information security and the availability of digital services."

What future developments do you foresee for AI in the tax sector?

"In the future, we plan to expand AI usage to include tax revenue forecasting, automated report analysis, and more extensive use of big data. Digital transformation is an ongoing process, and AI technologies are becoming an essential tool for modern public administration."

The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has deeply affected the citizens of Tajikistan, particularly its politicians and intellectuals. On March 5, many of them gathered at the Iranian Embassy in Dushanbe, where a book of condolences was opened following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior military officials. During the ceremony, Tajik figures expressed their sympathy to the Iranian people.

Journalists from Asia-Plus prepared a report from the ceremony and asked several political, academic, and literary figures present for their opinions on the situation in Iran.

Among the elderly man and the crying woman with a photograph of Khamenei

The ceremony was attended by high-ranking Tajik officials, representatives from foreign diplomatic missions, scientists, writers, and cultural figures, as well as numerous citizens of Tajikistan.

Among those attending on behalf of the government of Tajikistan was Prime Minister Qohir Rasoulzoda, who expressed his condolences to the Iranian ambassador and the people of Iran.

Other Tajik officials, including the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Parliament, the Union of Writers, the National Museum of Tajikistan, and the country’s Grand Mufti, also paid their respects.

Throughout the day, the ceremony was visited by academics, journalists, writers, and cultural figures. Dozens of Tajik citizens came to the embassy and left messages in the book of condolences. One elderly man wore a mourning ribbon around his waist, and a woman, tearfully holding a photograph of Khamenei, stood in silence.

The ceremony was also attended by a large number of Iranians living in Tajikistan, dressed in black and visibly emotional. A large portrait of Ali Khamenei adorned the center of the room, surrounded by flowers and a black mourning ribbon, while the sound of the Quran being recited filled the air.

Ambassadors and diplomats from countries such as Turkiye, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan were also present.

During the event, Asia-Plus journalists asked some Tajik political and literary figures for their views on the war between the U.S. and Israel against Iran and their stance on the ongoing situation.

“A very heavy tragedy and shared pain”

Former politician and diplomat Abdudjabbor Rahmonzoda called the events in Iran “a very heavy tragedy,” emphasizing that what is happening in Iran is a shared disaster for all peoples tied together by culture and language.

He stressed that the presence of Tajikistan’s Prime Minister and other officials at the ceremony held significant diplomatic value. According to Rahmonzoda, if a people with shared culture, language, and historical connections to Iranians fail to show support during such difficult times, it could be misinterpreted.

Rahmonzoda added that for a country like Tajikistan, which has experienced civil war and great losses, the events in Iran are particularly painful. However, he expressed confidence that the tragedy would eventually be overcome, and that the future cooperation between the two countries would grow even stronger.

“Great Iran will certainly triumph”

The Chairman of the Union of Writers of Tajikistan and member of the upper chamber of parliament, Nizom Qosim, stated that Tajikistan and Iran have always been “like two bodies and one soul.”

He noted that since Tajikistan’s independence, this bond has only grown stronger. “We consider Iran’s success our success, and its failure our failure,” Qosim said.

Qosim strongly condemned the attacks by the U.S. and Israel, calling it an “unjust assault” and expressing his deep sorrow. He sincerely wished victory for Iran, adding that during these challenging times, Tajik writers stand in solidarity with their Iranian counterparts, recalling their works and shared love for their countries and common culture.

According to Qosim, the shared language is the fundamental foundation of the ties between the two nations. He also stated that such wars cannot destroy the literary connections between Tajikistan and Iran.

He emphasized that war is the enemy of culture, cooperation, and creation, which is why wise people always oppose war, bloodshed, and aggression. The Chairman of the Union of Writers of Tajikistan also condemned the actions of the U.S., Israel, and other countries involved in the war, expressing hope that Iran would endure the trials and defeat its enemies.

“The fate of Iran should be determined by the Iranian people themselves”

Academician Karomatullo Olimov addressed the writers and cultural figures of Tajikistan, urging them to support the Iranian people during these difficult times.

He described the killings as unjust and alarming to people worldwide. Olimov noted that the attack violated the principles of the United Nations and was aimed against all of humanity.

He called Iranian scientists and cultural figures heirs to the great shared civilization of Tajikistan and Iran, stressing that despite the challenges, the Iranian people must continue to fight.

When discussing the impact of the war on scientific cooperation between the two countries, Olimov acknowledged that direct travel and contacts are currently hindered, but expressed confidence that cooperation would not be fully halted.

Olimov concluded, saying, “The fate of Iran should be determined by the Iranian people themselves.”