The "Taza Kala" program from the Jibek Joly TV channel visited Shymkent on August 27, 2025. Journalists, as usual, split into teams: one group explored the central streets, another the private sector, and a third crowded areas, including markets and public transportation stops. The goal of the visit was to assess the city's cleanliness, environmental awareness, and amenities.

Shymkent is a beautiful city with a rich history, friendly residents, and vibrant nature. Much has changed in recent years: new parks have opened, streets have been reconstructed, and public gardens have been landscaped. But much of the credit for this goes to ordinary people—those who go to work every day with a broom, a bucket, and specialized equipment.

For example, cleaner Saule Keneskyzy, who has been working in this field for 20 years, said:
"At first, I was embarrassed by my work and tried to hide my face. But then I realized that our work is incredibly important. Now I'm proud of what I do. People thank me for keeping it clean, and it's inspiring. Over the past two years, my salary has doubled, and bonuses have become regular. We start our shift at 6 a.m. and work in all weather conditions to keep the city clean," she says.

Stories like these demonstrate that the city's outward beauty is rooted in the efforts of hundreds of people working in the municipal sector. Their work meets modern standards, even though conditions remain challenging.

Despite visible improvements, problems persist. This is especially noticeable in the private sector. There, trash containers are placed along the streets. Residents are being responsible: they tie the bags and stack them neatly. However, an unpleasant odor remains, as trash is not collected regularly.

According to regulations, garbage trucks are supposed to arrive once a week, but residents report that garbage trucks haven't arrived for three weeks. This creates inconvenience, fuels discontent, and impacts the environment. Authorities promise to tighten oversight of contractors, but a systematic solution has yet to be found.

When people think of Shymkent, the first thing that comes to mind are the markets. There are 19 of them in the city, and four of them have already been modernized. They now feature covered pavilions, convenient parking, and updated restrooms.

While trade used to be conducted spontaneously, right on the roadsides, the situation is now changing. Vendors are moving to designated areas, and the mayor's office has tightened enforcement. This improves customer comfort and reduces the burden on public utilities.

A year ago, journalists from the program "Taza Kala" also visited Shymkent. Back then, they noted the dilapidated facades of new buildings, leaking pipes, and cluttered courtyards. This year, the presenters visited these areas again to see if anything had changed.

The results are mixed. Some buildings have indeed received a refreshed look: their facades have been painted, the surrounding areas have been cleaned, and trash cans and benches have been installed. But in others, the problems remain unchanged. This suggests that systematic monitoring of the condition of residential complexes is still lacking.

One of the most notable achievements of the year was the implementation of the renovation program. Particular attention was paid to the Koksay district, also known as "Green Beam." Construction of modern high-rise buildings has begun there. Some families have already received the keys to their new apartments.

Residents report that conditions in the new buildings are significantly better: the number of rooms remains the same, but the floor space has almost doubled. A total of 76 families moved from eight older buildings during the first phase. In the future, 217 owners from 23 buildings will receive new apartments.

This initiative is being implemented at the direction of the President and is designed to improve the quality of life for city residents. Relocation to new buildings is accompanied by improvements to courtyards, landscaping, and the installation of playgrounds.

The collected data was submitted to experts, who provided their assessment. They noted that the city administration is paying attention to cleanliness, holding campaigns as part of the "Taza Kazakhstan" campaign, updating equipment, and increasing salaries for street cleaners. However, the performance of public utilities remains noticeably behind schedule.

The main problem is irregular waste collection in the private sector. Difficulties in monitoring the condition of residential buildings and courtyards also persist. Despite some successes, a systematic approach has yet to be established.

Shymkent continues to change. On the one hand, positive steps are visible: reconstructed markets, new buildings, regular cleanup campaigns. On the other, long-standing problems, such as delays in garbage collection, remain unaddressed.

The "Taza Kala" program has once again proven that keeping a city clean is not just the work of utility workers, but the responsibility of every resident. As long as residents take care of their yards and the authorities ensure timely service, Shymkent has every chance of becoming a role model for other cities in Kazakhstan.