Turkestan has been granted special status after Tokayev signed the law.

The law establishes the special status of the city of Turkestan as a spiritual, historical-cultural, tourist center, and an architectural heritage site of the country.

As explained by the Akorda, the document stipulates:

It is worth recalling that the issue of granting Turkestan a special status was raised a year ago. Later, a draft law was introduced in the Mazhilis to assign a special status to Turkestan. Among other things, the consumption of alcohol was planned to be prohibited in the city.

In February, the Senate speaker advised the authorities of Turkestan to study the experience of Uzbekistan and Turkey in attracting tourists. Ashimbaev emphasized that the tourist potential of Turkestan is still untapped.

Notably, according to information on the official website of the city’s akimat, Turkestan - is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia and Kazakhstan.

"According to research conducted by scientists on historical sites, based on Chinese census data, the city of Turkestan is mentioned in the II-III centuries BC. It indicates that at that time it was a major cultural and spiritual center," - is stated on the akimat's website.

It is noted that Turkestan has been referred to as a religious center for all Turkic peoples or the "little Mecca" since the Middle Ages.