Why Tursunzoda
Tursunzoda is a city situated in western Tajikistan, positioned approximately 60 kilometers west of the national capital of Dushanbe and 40 kilometers west of Hisor, close to the border with Uzbekistan. Originally known as the village of Regar—a name translating to "town on sand"—the settlement expanded into a regional center within the western portion of the Hisor Valley. In 1978, the town and its surrounding district were officially renamed to honor the prominent Tajik national poet, Mirzo Tursunzoda, though the local railway station retains the historical name of Regar.
The city is situated near several waterways, flanked by the Shirkent River to the west and the Karatag River to the east, with the Kofarnihon River located further east. Abundant irrigation supplied by these nearby rivers supports a flourishing agricultural sector throughout the area. Local farmers cultivate a variety of crops, including vegetables, cotton, and citrus fruits such as grapefruit. Additionally, the district serves as a notable rice-producing area, generating significant yields that contribute to Tajikistan's national output.
Industrial development in Tursunzoda accelerated during the 1960s, made possible by the electricity generated by the hydroelectric power station at the Nurek Dam on the Vakhsh River. This power source facilitated the establishment of the Tajik aluminium smelting plant, known as TadAZ. Construction on this massive facility began in 1972, leading to its first production of poured aluminium in March 1975. Recognized as the largest aluminium processing facility in Central Asia, the plant relies on imported raw materials and utilizes forty percent of the country's total electricity supply.
In addition to its central aluminium facility, the city's economic landscape features various manufacturing operations, including plants dedicated to cotton cleaning, cable production, and the manufacturing of china and bricks. Administratively, the city encompasses the urban core along with nine outlying rural communities, known as jamoats, supporting a total municipal population of nearly three hundred thousand residents. During the Tajikistani Civil War, control of the municipality temporarily fell under the warlord Mahmud Khudoyberdiev.
Tursunzoda also serves as a regional cultural and athletic hub within the western province. The local sports scene is anchored by the football club Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda. Public information and media across the municipality are provided through local broadcasting outlets, including two television channels—TV-REGAR and TV-TADAZ—a radio station, and two print newspapers titled Regar and Aluminiy Tojikiston.
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