On 5 October, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, attended and delivered a speech at a festive event in the city of Kulob dedicated to the national holiday — the 35th anniversary of State Independence.
At the beginning, the Head of State, respected Emomali Rahmon, congratulated the proud and dignified residents of the city of Kulob on the 35th anniversary of State Independence and the important occasion of the Day of the State Language, which is one of the national sacred values and belongs to the creative values of the ancient Tajik nation.
It was noted that thirty-five years ago, the Tajik people achieved their thousand-year-old dream of establishing an independent and sovereign state.
“During this short period by historical standards, thanks to the selfless round-the-clock work and great will of the noble Tajik people, we have managed to strengthen the foundations of our national statehood, restore peace, stability and national unity, lay a solid foundation for the economic and social development of the state, and transform our beloved Tajikistan into a country advancing along the path of progress and enjoying a worthy standing on the international arena,” said the Head of State, respected Emomali Rahmon.
The Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, described all achievements — from the construction of roads and bridges, power plants and enterprises to the development of education, healthcare and culture, as well as the significant improvement in the living standards and quality of life of the population — as the result of independence and freedom, as well as the selfless work of the people of Tajikistan, including the patriotic residents of the city of Kulob.
It was emphasized that the ancient city of Kulob, owing to its glorious past, holds a special place in the history of Tajik statehood. The residents of the ancient city of Kulob are honorably fulfilling the sacred mission of preserving and continuing the world-renowned historical and cultural heritage of the Tajik people.
According to the President of the country, respected Emomali Rahmon, the inclusion of dozens of historical and cultural monuments of Khatlon Province in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name “Ancient Khuttal” represents international recognition of the ancient culture and civilization of this historic land of the Tajiks.
Recalling the first years of independence, respected Emomali Rahmon emphasized the unique contribution of the proud and patriotic residents of Khatlon Province, particularly the courageous, brave and dignified young people of the city of Kulob, to the restoration of the constitutional order and the strengthening of peace and stability in the country.
It was noted that during the years of independence, thanks to the constant support and care of the Government, as well as the selfless and constructive work of its residents, the city of Kulob has undergone significant improvement and development, and its appearance has fundamentally changed. On the eve of the 35th anniversary of State Independence, as of 1 October 2026, 493 production and social facilities had been commissioned in the city of Kulob, exceeding the planned target.
On this day alone, 51 new facilities were commissioned in the city of Kulob, including 15 industrial enterprises, creating more than 2,500 new jobs.
It was noted that during the years of State Independence, more than 3 billion 900 million somoni from the state budget had been allocated for the socio-economic development of the city of Kulob. During this period, a total of 1 billion somoni in direct foreign investment had been attracted to the city's economy.
The Head of State, respected Emomali Rahmon, noted that 25 state investment projects had been implemented in the fields of education and healthcare, road construction, energy and other sectors, while another 20 state investment projects were currently being implemented.
It was noted that 77 industrial enterprises currently operate in the city of Kulob, and during the first eight months of 2026, the volume of industrial production increased by more than 18 percent compared with the same period of the previous year.
Analyzing the socio-economic situation of the city's residents, the Head of State, respected Emomali Rahmon, noted that improving housing conditions has remained under constant attention during the period of State Independence. During this period, residential buildings with a total area of 618,000 square meters were constructed and commissioned in the city of Kulob. More than 8,000 families were allocated land plots for the construction of individual housing.
The Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, emphasized that during the years of State Independence, 53 educational institution buildings with 17,000 student places had been constructed and commissioned using funds from all sources of financing. During this period, 84 healthcare facilities had also been constructed and commissioned in the city of Kulob in order to develop the healthcare sector and provide the population with accessible and quality medical services.
Taking the opportunity, respected Emomali Rahmon expressed sincere gratitude to the hardworking residents of the city, patriotic entrepreneurs and philanthropists who made a valuable contribution to the improvement and beautification of the ancient city of Kulob, particularly during preparations for the celebration of the 35th anniversary of State Independence.
President Emomali Rahmon also spoke about the constructive measures undertaken by the Government for the construction of industrial enterprises, roads and railways, including the 132-kilometer Bokhtar–Kulob railway, the reconstruction and modernization of Kulob Airport, the opening of automobile bridges along the Guliston–Kulob route, as well as the laying of foundation stones for the construction of the 33-kilometer Guliston–Kulob highway, the 12-kilometer Kulob–Shamsiddin Shohin highway, and several industrial enterprises.
Concluding his speech, the President expressed confidence that the residents of the ancient city of Kulob would continue, with a strong sense of national consciousness, patriotism and love for the Motherland, to preserve their customs and traditions and, most importantly, pursue constructive and development-oriented activities, achieving ever greater success in improving their region and our beloved independent country — Tajikistan.
Following the speech by the Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, a festive concert program dedicated to the sacred occasions of the 35th anniversary of State Independence and the Day of the State Language was held at the central stadium of Kulob.
The solemn cultural event featured beautiful songs and dances, as well as a colorful theatrical performance.
Masters of Tajik art and performers from the city of Kulob presented songs based on the works of renowned poets and composers, dedicated to Tajikistan, State Independence, lasting peace and national unity, the State Language, the Leader of the Nation, as well as other national values and achievements of the independence period, making the event meaningful, engaging and memorable.
