On October 5, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, participated in and delivered a speech at a ceremonial celebration in the city of Kulob dedicated to the national holiday marking the 35th anniversary of State Independence.

At the outset, Leader of the Nation, Emomali Rahmon, congratulated the proud and honorable people of Kulob on the 35th anniversary of State Independence and on another important date — State Language Day, which is one of the national sacred, life-affirming values of the ancient Tajik nation.

It was emphasized that 35 years ago, the Tajik nation achieved its thousand-year aspiration — to establish an independent and sovereign state.

“During this relatively short period in historical terms, through round-the-clock hard work and the great will of the noble people of Tajikistan, we have managed to strengthen the foundations of our national statehood and transform our beloved Tajikistan into a developing country enjoying a worthy reputation in the international arena,” President Emomali Rahmon stated.

Leader of the Nation, Emomali Rahmon, described all the achievements — from the construction of roads and bridges, power plants and enterprises to the development of education, healthcare, and culture and the significant improvement in the living standards and quality of life of the population — as the fruits of independence and freedom, as well as the dedicated work of the people of Tajikistan, including the patriotic residents of Kulob.

It was noted that the ancient city of Kulob holds a special place in the history of Tajik statehood due to its proud historical heritage. The residents of the ancient city of Kulob are proudly fulfilling their sacred mission as inheritors of the world-renowned history and civilization of the Tajik people.

According to President Emomali Rahmon, the inclusion of dozens of historical and cultural monuments of Khatlon Province under the name “Ancient Khuttal” on the UNESCO World Heritage List represents international recognition of the ancient culture and civilization of this historic land of the Tajiks.

Recalling the early years of independence, Emomali Rahmon emphasized the unique contribution of the proud and patriotic people of Khatlon Province, particularly the courageous, brave, and honorable men of Kulob, to restoring the constitutional order and strengthening peace and stability in the country.

It was noted that during the years of independence, with the continuous support and care of the Government and the dedicated and constructive efforts of its residents, Kulob has become significantly more developed and prosperous, while its appearance has undergone a fundamental transformation. In preparation for the 35th anniversary of State Independence, 493 production and social facilities had been commissioned in Kulob as of October 1, 2026, exceeding the planned target.

On the same day alone, 51 new facilities, including 15 industrial enterprises, were inaugurated in Kulob, creating more than 2,500 new jobs.

It was noted that during the period of independence, more than 3.9 billion somoni from the state budget had been allocated for the socio-economic development of Kulob. During this period, a total of 1 billion somoni in foreign direct investment had been attracted to the city’s economy.

President Emomali Rahmon stated that 25 state investment projects had been implemented in the fields of education and healthcare, roads, energy, and other sectors, while the implementation of another 20 state investment projects is currently underway.

It was noted that 77 industrial enterprises are currently operating in Kulob, and during the first eight months of 2026, their industrial output increased by more than 18 percent compared with the same period of the previous year.

President Emomali Rahmon analyzed the socio-economic situation of the city’s population and stated that improving housing conditions for residents had also remained a constant priority during the years of independence. During this period, residential buildings with a total area of 618,000 square meters were constructed and commissioned in Kulob. Land plots for the construction of residential homes were allocated to more than 8,000 families.

Leader of the Nation, Emomali Rahmon, emphasized that during the years of 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 been built and inaugurated in Kulob to develop the healthcare sector and improve public access to quality medical services.

Taking the opportunity, Emomali Rahmon expressed his sincere gratitude to the hardworking residents of the city, patriotic entrepreneurs and philanthropists who made a valuable contribution to the development and improvement of the ancient city of Kulob, particularly during the preparations for the 35th anniversary of State Independence.

President Emomali Rahmon also spoke about the Government’s constructive measures aimed at building industrial enterprises, roads and railway infrastructure, including the 132-kilometer Bokhtar–Kulob railway, the reconstruction and modernization of Kulob Airport, the inauguration of road bridges along the Guliston–Kulob route, and the laying of the foundation stone to launch construction of the 33-kilometer Guliston–Kulob road, the 12-kilometer Kulob–Shamsiddin Shohin road, as well as several industrial enterprises.

Concluding his speech, President Emomali Rahmon expressed confidence that the residents of the ancient city of Kulob would continue to preserve their customs, national traditions and cultural heritage and, most importantly, continue the process of construction and development with a strong sense of national identity, patriotism and devotion to their homeland. He expressed confidence that they would achieve even greater success in the development of their native land and beloved independent Tajikistan.

Following the speech by the Leader of the Nation, Emomali Rahmon, a festive concert program was held at the central stadium of Kulob to mark the 35th anniversary of State Independence and State Language Day.

The grand cultural event featured captivating songs and dances, as well as a colorful theatrical performance.

Masters of Tajik art and performers from 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, and other sacred values and achievements of the period of independence. The performances were highly meaningful, engaging, and memorable.