President Mirziyoyev Visits Imam Bukhari Complex

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Samarkand on May 3 and began his working visit with a trip to the Imam Bukhari complex. At the mausoleum of the prominent Islamic scholar and hadith expert, verses from the Quran were recited and prayers were offered.

It was noted that the complex was fully reconstructed on the initiative of the head of state, taking into account the high spiritual status of Imam Bukhari in the Islamic world and the significance of his scholarly legacy. Following the renovation, expanded facilities for pilgrims and visitors have been created on the site.

Officials said that this year, ahead of the Ramadan holiday, the complex reopened to worshippers, and more than 60,000 people, including citizens of Uzbekistan and foreign guests, attended the festive prayer there. According to the information presented during the visit, after reconstruction the site is now capable of accommodating up to 65,000 visitors at a time, compared to the previous capacity of 12,000 per day.

It was also reported that more than one million pilgrims and tourists from Uzbekistan and abroad have visited the complex in the first month since its reopening.

During the visit, the president issued instructions to further improve conditions for visitors, expand opportunities for performing religious rites, and deepen engagement with the heritage of Imam Bukhari. Special emphasis was placed on infrastructure development, including increasing parking capacity, improving landscaped areas, and creating more comfortable conditions for pilgrims.

He also instructed that the operation of the complex be systematically analyzed, with service conditions reviewed every six months, and additional measures introduced when necessary to improve infrastructure.

Separate attention was given to enhancing the qualifications of imams and khatibs through organized visits to the complex.

The president stressed the importance of a comprehensive approach to developing pilgrimage culture, improving sacred sites and cemeteries, and creating dignified conditions for their visitation.

According to him, such measures carry important spiritual and educational value, help strengthen respect for ancestral memory, and foster a sense of continuity of national and cultural values among young people.