AKIPRESS.COM - On April 26, residents of Kara-Kulja district marked the opening of the Kok-Jar-Sai bridge in 1-May village which provides access to one of the largest pastures in Osh region – spanning over 90,000 hectares of pasture and benefiting 8,000 people. This grazing area had been inaccessible until now as the previous bridge was destroyed by heavy rains and mudflows. This new passage facilitates access to this pasture which is an important source of local livelihoods.

To mark this occasion various local authorities and guests were present, including Asylbek Jeenbekov, Member of the Parliament; Taalaibek Sarybashov, governor of Osh region; Robin Ord-Smith, British Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan; Altaaf Hasham, Program Management and Liaison Officer, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Representation in Kyrgyzstan; and Jalaluddin Shah, Chief Executive Officer, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Kyrgyzstan.

The bridge was constructed by the Mountain Societies Development Support Program, an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation, as part of a broader project funded by the government of the United Kingdom. The local government of Kara-Kulja rural municipality and local pasture committee also contributed to the project by providing in-kind and financial support.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Asylbek Jeenbekov noted: “I am delighted that this project was completed through a partnership between the surrounding communities, the local government alongside reliable development partners such as the British government and the Aga Khan Development Network. I am confident that access to this pasture will have a meaningful and positive impact on the local communities.”