On 20 January President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Republic of Karakalpakstan to review the pace of social-economic reforms, creative and improvement works, aimed at further increasing the level and quality of life of the people and for a dialogue with people. 

It should be underlined that the Republic of Karakalpakstan was among the first of the regions our country to be visited by Shavkat Mirziyoyev as the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which, indisputably, demonstrates a deep respect and attention of the head of our country to the Karakalpak people. 

At the pre-election meeting in Shumanay district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on 10 November 2016, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said: “I consider myself a son of not only the Uzbek people, but also the Karakalpak people!”. Furthermore, speaking about the planned wide-scale works on comprehensive support of the residents of this region, in particular, he noted: “Henceforth, we will visit each district and the city, even the most remote rural areas and villages. We will listen to the concerns of the people, develop programs, aimed at solving their problems, establish strict control over their execution”. 

We may conclude that today's trip to the Republic of Karakalpakstan was another practical realization of these noble goals and objectives, planned for the Year of dialogue with the people and human interests. 

As a result of opportunities, created by the state in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the sectors of the economy, industry, construction, information and communication technologies, small business and private entrepreneurship are dynamically developing. Currently, about half of the gross regional product, 75 percent of exports fall to the share of private sector. 75 per cent of the working population are employed in this sector. 

However, the difficult conditions in the region, the environmental disaster in the Aral Sea region require an urgent attention to a number of important issues such as the provision of drinking water, quality health care, protection of maternal and child health, special attention to institutions of family and mahalla, enhancing the role of women and youth in the society. 

In this regard, the head of our state met with people, visited families, got acquainted with the conditions of their lives. Sincere dialogues with people took place. 

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited a central hospital of Hojayli district. The hospital, equipped with modern medical apparatus, along with 11 rural medical centres and 4 polyclinics of the district, provide medical services to over 130 thousand people. 

Health is the most valuable wealth. A specialist, rendering medical aid to people, is a representative of one of the most honoured professions. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev learned about the conditions at the hospital, inspected reception area, X-ray and diagnosis rooms, and others. During the talks with doctors, they exchanged views on the issues of training qualified medical staff, effective use of medical equipment, increasing the quality of services, the necessity to take into account the climate conditions of each region in constructing hospitals. 

The Head of our state went to the “Muruvvat” women’s care home. Talking to the doctors and nurses, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that the state will continue to provide support in further improving the conditions at medical institutions. 

Improving infrastructure of schools, educating qualified students and future professionals, who are capable to contribute to prosperity of the Motherland was on the focus of a dialogue with teachers of the school №69. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev also went to the construction site of the agro-industrial centre. This complex, which will be put under operation in 2017-2018, sits on the area of 11 ha. The buildings for storage, processing, packaging of agricultural products as well as a terminal, loading-unloading area, refrigerators, greenhouses, buildings for customs clearance, a hangar, a hotel, catering and sports complexes will be constructed here. 

The issues of developing housing infrastructure in Hojayli were also discussed on site. The Head of our state gave instructions to construct and commission 40 multi-storey apartment houses until the end of the year, so that people will have sensed the launched transformations. 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev also went to the “Karakalpakstan” rural medical centre. During the talks with doctors, it was noted that the activity of workers of medical sphere has a special place in strengthening the trust of population to governmental institutions. Along with the questions of equipping rural medical centres with modern medical devices, their provision with medicines and other medical means were also discussed. 

The President of our country visited the children’s school of music and arts named after Jumaboy Bozorov in Shumanay district, catering to 211 pupils. Classes are held here in more than ten specialities - national musical instruments, piano, choreography, visual arts and others. Despite the short period since the opening of the school, its pupils have repeatedly become winners of a number of competitions, in particular, won the first place at competitions on a national scale twice. 

The teachers and pupils of the school underlined that the First President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov attached a special attention to educating the younger generation as physically and harmonically developed individuals. President of our country Shavkat Mirziyoyev consistently continues these good deeds. 

The Head of our country also visited the Qanlikol district branch of the Agroservis MTP LLC, where the thorough preparations for spring fieldworks were discussed. The need for gradual decrease of cotton fields and development of cattle breeding in the district was accentuated. 

During a conversation at the Qanlikol pedagogical professional college, the President of our country underscored the necessity to change the spheres of education at the college in line with the requirements of the time, training demanded cadres for social-economic spheres of the district. It is necessary to carry out translation and publication of the fiction and non-fiction literature in Karakalpak, their delivery to educational institutions. 

The Head of our state also inspected the works at the Kungrad-Muynak water pipeline network. With commissioning of this 101 km long network, 7 thousand cubic meters of water will be carried daily and over 25 thousand people will be provided with drinking water. 

A meeting with representatives of the Republic of Karakalpakstan took place in Nukus. A special attention was attached to the issues of social-economic development of Karakalpakstan, creating worthy conditions of life for people. 

The visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev is continuing.