A man has an amazing personality. Colossal transformations are taking place before our eyes, large-scale activity is being carried out, but sometimes we do not notice it. Every passing day enters the annals of history as a reality full of bright moments. And most importantly, a new history is being created in every corner of Uzbekistan. This can be seen in the example of the most remote, Sokh district of Fergana region.

Every piece of native land is saturated with the love and warmth of our people. At the entrance to the Sokh district, we enjoy its special beauty. The national flag at the border post fills our hearts with a sense of pride. Magnificent streets and well-maintained places pleasantly surprise you. Thanks to the creative work carried out in recent years, the worldview of Sokh people has changed radically, their standard of living has increased, and socio-economic problems are being resolved.

To date, the main goal of the reforms is to satisfy people with their lives. Over the past five years, almost one trillion UZS have been allocated for the development of Sokh, including 500 billion UZS in 2021-2022. Modern houses, hospitals, schools, new roads have been built. More than 100 billion UZS were spent on the Qayroq pumping station alone. More than a thousand hectares of land located on hilly plains have turned into irrigated crop areas. The development of Javpaya massif brings profit to thousands of families and serves to reduce poverty.

It should be noted that the number of tax benefits provided to Sokh entrepreneurs amounted to 19 billion UZS per year. It can be said that these funds have opened wide opportunities for entrepreneurial activity in the district. The peaceful and calm life reigning here, prosperity, improvement of ancient monuments, sacred places of worship, the activities of educational and medical facilities, sports complexes, cultural and educational facilities, the transformed appearance of native villages strengthen in every family, in the heart of every person, the desire to live, faith in the bright future.

It is gratifying that these good initiatives unite all people around common goals, urging them to live in peace and harmony. Looking at them, who rightfully reap the fruits of their work, workers who are satisfied with their lives and strive with all their might to achieve their goals, the soul fills with a sense of pride and dignity.

The construction of a modern children’s camp “Sokh” until recently seemed to the locals an unrealizable dream. And today that dream has become a reality. At the initiative of the President, the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan built a modern building for 200 seats in the shortest possible time on 5 hectares in a picturesque area at the expense of almost 28 billion UZS allocated from the state budget, which pleasantly surprised and delighted many.

As the Turkish poet, Nâzım Hikmet wrote: “Let's give the world to the children just for one day”. They own every dawn in this camp. Here they sing songs about peace, began to see the world in different colors, learned to overcome the obstacles they encountered on their way.

We sincerely believe that the slogans heard in the pavilions will one day become a reality:

“A’lo honi kori mo,

Peshrovi shiori mo”,

which means: “We set out great goals, we are the creators of New Uzbekistan!”

“For 20 years now, in summer, I have taken 20-30 Sokh children to “Koinot” recreation area in the city of Kokand. The road was exhausting, besides, it is very difficult to be responsible for the safety of children”, says the Director of “Sokh” children’s health camp Tavakkal Erkayev. – We only dreamed of the construction of such a camp in our district with all the conditions. Thanks to the efforts of the President, our dreams have come true. This place seems to have given the children back their childhood. Thousands of boys and girls are planning to improve their health this summer.

Sokh people still have the feeling of inspiration that they experienced at the grand opening ceremony of the camp. The guests who participated in the event spoke about the transformations and renovations taking place in the district.

“The Sokh Valley is one of the ancient places of human civilization in Central Asia”, says the head of the Republican Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment Minkhojiddin Mirzo. – When it comes to the monuments of the Stone Age, Chashma and Selungur sites are mentioned. Obishir culture tells of amazing wonders. Every piece of Fergana land, including Sokh, carries a centuries-old history. Every mountain here, hill and even stone has an ancient origin, is woven into the culture and spirituality of the people. One can feel the spiritual energy of great scientists, ulema, thinkers and saints at every corner of Sokh. Here we feel the breath of Babur. Such monuments and places of pilgrimage as Sangi Oyina, Hazrat Ali, Mahmud Ghaznavi, Babur’s Bridge, Mozor Buva, are fanned by the spirit of great people, they are witnesses of our ancient history. I am sure that every resident of Sokh feels the spirit of New Uzbekistan today in his life and on the example of his family.

Over 80 thousand people live in Sokh district. President pays great attention to Sokh district to ensure a happy and prosperous life for these 80 thousand residents, as well as thousands of children who will be born in the future. Large-scale work has been carried out as part of the implementation of the resolution of the Head of the state “On measures for the integrated socio-economic development of Sokh district of Fergana region in 2020-2021” of August 8, 2020. By the tasks for the development of industries, services and agriculture, 75 projects were put into operation, 76.9 billion UZS of investments were disbursed. About 2,000 people have been employed.

Construction and repair work has been completed to improve engineering and communication networks for 236.4 billion UZS. The activities of 12 state and family preschool education institutions have been established, additional groups have been opened in 11 preschool education institutions, thereby increasing the enrollment rate of children in preschool education institutions to almost 70 percent. 34 billion UZS were spent on repairing schools, 27.8 billion UZS on the construction and equipping of medical institutions, and 5.5 billion UZS on sports facilities.

Creative and landscaping work carried out within the framework of the “Obod Qishloq” (Prosperous Village) and “Obod Mahalla” (Prosperous Neighborhood) programs in Rovon, Istiqlol, Qal’a, Sokh, Gaznov, Khusher, Mulgon, Sharqobod, Oftobru mahallas contributes to improving the well-being of the population. In particular, the allocation of 500 quota places for Sokh youth when entering higher education institutions was an important step towards their improvement and further prosperity of Sokh district. It is gratifying that flights from the center of Fergana region have been established to Sokh, and special grants have been allocated for local youth when entering universities. The number of such transformations and changes cannot be counted.

Sokh is the territory of Uzbekistan, which has the status of an enclave. During the period of the history of independence, which is almost a quarter of a century, the residents of the district, precisely because of this factor, had to face many problems.

“With the election of Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the post of President, the attitude towards the Sokh district, which is an integral part of the picturesque Fergana Valley, has changed radically”, says labor veteran Subkhiddin Sharofiddinov from Sokh district. – Problems that worried residents for several years were gradually resolved. Landscaped streets please the eye, cleanliness and order reign everywhere. A sense of belonging to the fate of the country and colossal creative work lives in our hearts.

According to Mr. Sharofiddinov, who devoted his whole life to education, such good deeds, calling for selfless work for the development and prosperity of the country, are important, especially in these turbulent days. In a word, respectable mothers and fathers living in the districts serve as an example for all residents with their instructive life and honest work.

Youth are the creators of New Uzbekistan. We are all responsible for their harmonious development. That is why they receive all-round support, all kinds of conditions are created. In Sokh district, the ranks of young people are expanding from year to year, who surprise us with their achievements in science, sports, art, and entrepreneurship. Only in sports can we proudly mention the names of many young people, such as Rasulbek Davronov, Abdurahim Koziyev, Farhod Isoyev, Sukhrobjon Koriyev, Nasim Mukhiddinov, Rustam Kazarov, who win national, continental and world championships.

Today, the business sector is turning into a district driver. As a result of the creation of modern manufacturing industries, the accelerated development of private entrepreneurship, handicraft traditions, and reforms carried out to ensure employment of the population, in recent years the district’s economy has almost doubled, the number of small businesses – five times.

When does a person look to the future with confidence? When he has prosperity and well-being in the family, peace in the house. And for this, first of all, he must have a constant source of income, in other words, he must work based on his potential and abilities. One of the urgent problems faced by the majority of the population in Sokh is unemployment. In this regard, special attention is paid to employment issues. At the same time, about 4,000 hectares of abandoned hilly land unused in rural areas on Javpay, Surati, Vargan and Malbut massifs were allocated to Fergana State Forestry Department. Currently, promising projects are being implemented here to grow lemon, lavender, as well as medicinal plants such as ferula and rose hips.

“Work is in full swing to develop the rocky soil of Javpay massif, which has suffered from drought for centuries”, says youth activist Dadakhon Khasanov. – As a priority, it is envisaged to provide, with the assistance of the Hokimiyat of Fergana region, employment of the population, in particular youth, increasing its income through the introduction of modern irrigation systems and water-saving technologies, growing crops that do not require much water. After creating all the necessary conditions for farming, the land is allocated to residents who are in the “Iron”, “Women’s”, “Youth” notebooks, and initiative family entrepreneurs living in Tul, Kalacha, Sohibkor, Gaznov mahallas, to create greenhouses with an area of ​​10 acres and gardens with an area of ​​up to 1 hectare.

For this massif, a water supply system was laid at a five-kilometer distance from the Sokh River, and an electrical network was laid at a two-kilometer distance. Special pools are being built, and a drip irrigation system is being established in the sown areas. The land was given to about a thousand families who are working hard to set up orchards. Taking into account the fact that Sokh apples, pears, apricots, persimmons and peaches are in high demand among buyers, these people, who start their own business with high hopes, will make a good profit.

In 2022, by the Sokh District Socio-Economic Development Program, within the framework of 39 investment projects, it is planned to use 3 million 400 thousand dollars of direct investment.

Until recently, among all the districts of Fergana region, the Sokh district was considered the most difficult in terms of water supply. By the end of the year, water supply in the district will be brought to 100 percent. For this, it is planned to build and reconstruct 30 hydraulic structures, and lay 274 kilometers of a pipeline with clean drinking water.

5-6 years ago, when it was about crossing the border points that connect the two countries – Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the citizens of Sokh sighed deeply. The bitterness of this sigh is well understood by our compatriots, who in those years had to pass through these border points.

Thanks to the far-sighted and reasonable policy of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the long-term ice has “melted”. The residents of Sokh were delighted by the restored friendly ties between the two fraternal peoples. Between Fergana region and Batken region of Kyrgyzstan, the activities of the border checkpoints “Rishtan” (“Kaytpas”), “Tul” (“Etikchi”) was restored, the Sokh – Rishtan road passing through Kyrgyzstan was opened, which has become an unforgettable event for the residents of the district over the past years. Today, to get to the center of Fergana region, one does not have to travel 80 kilometers, wasting one’s time in vain. An opportunity has been created to arrive at the destination on a shortened path, only 20 kilometers.

“Another dream of Sokh residents has come true, a new airport has been built”, says Subkhonali Nishonov, a resident of Khazratali mahalla. – More than seven billion UZS were spent from the state budget for these works. From now on, planes fly on certain days of the week. The runway with a length of 700 meters and a total area of ​​7 hectares provides aircraft with the opportunity to move freely. Taking into account the fact that the establishment of flights from the center of Fergana region to Sokh will increase the flow of tourists, the land plots adjacent to Sokh airport are turning into a lavender grove. In the future, lavender festivals can be held here, which will also attract tourists from all over the world.

Practical work has begun on the construction of a recreation area for veterans for 100 people in the district, which can be noted as another convenience for the development of tourism infrastructure.

Sokh is an area rich in sacred places of worship, historical monuments, cultural heritage sites. The places of worship of Hazrat Ali, Sulton Ghaznavi, the Selungur cave, the cultural monument of Khujayli Murod have always attracted the attention of residents and foreign tourists. There is no doubt that Mount Surati is of great importance on the tourist map of the district. The mysterious smooth mountain stones of this historic area shimmer like a mirror. A unique spectacle helps to contemplate the boundless beauty of the picturesque nature of Sokh. The establishment of transport traffic and flights in the direction of “Fergana – Sokh – Fergana” significantly increased the flow of tourists. Taking this into account, thanks to the support by the district hokimiyat of initiative entrepreneurs, more than 20 guest houses were built. Currently, the initiators of the new project are working on the implementation of their business ideas. Consistent measures continue in the district toward the development of ecotourism, agrotourism and medical tourism.

Surely, the person who recently visited Sokh witnessed the ongoing reforms here in full swing, an active process, happy smiles on the faces of residents. This serves as a vivid example of the vital reflection of the ongoing reforms. By communicating with them, you will hear sincere words, filled with feelings of gratitude. They have confident and firm steps, great hopes and aspirations, they live with confidence in the future. Sokh residents constantly feel the attention and care of the President, selflessly work for the benefit of the country’s development. After all, this is precisely the good goal of vital reforms carried out in Uzbekistan according to the principle “In the name of human dignity”. This is their practical result!

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Masudjon Suleymanov, UzA