Bektenov Admitted Time Zone Change Can Cause Inconveniencies

At a meeting with Qostanay region residents, the Head of Government spoke about the country's transition to a single time zone,  Orda.kz reports.

As the Cabinet press service writes, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov spoke in support of the time change, noting that such a decision was based on scientific research.

He cited the 2017 Nobel Prize for studying circadian rhythms and the 2022 Barcelona Declaration, signed by scientists from more than 80 countries. 

Research has shown that living by natural time positively affects people's health and well-being.

That is why progressive countries are now striving to switch to a natural time zone. Previously, the country was transferred by directive to a zone that is unnatural for us. Now, on the contrary, we have brought the time in line with solar cycles, he stated.

At the same time, Bektenov admits that the new era can cause inconveniences.

The body gradually gets used to it. This decision was made. If there are any inconveniences in the regions, we need to work with infrastructure, lighting, and flexible hours, which our labor legislation allows. We will continue to resolve all these issues,  said the Prime Minister. 

Meanwhile, experts have mixed feelings about this.

Political scientist Gaziz Abishev, commenting on the prime minister's words, drew attention to the country's geographical conditions.

Bektenov publicly stood up for the current uniform time for all of Kazakhstan, stretching for three thousand kilometers from east to west — UTC+5, citing the Nobel Prize. They say that living in 'unnatural time' poses a risk for people with heart problems and other ailments. But 'natural time' is very good for health. No problem, thank you for your concern. Just a small clarification: do residents of Oskemen and Oral, whose sunsets and sunrises differ from each other by two hours, simultaneously live in 'natural time?'
 the expert asks.

Abishev believes that, in the future, the time zone for the western part of Kazakhstan may need to be revised to account for regional peculiarities.

The same sleep cycle lasts 1.5-2 hours, and it turns out that the east and west differ by a whole cycle. But they still live in the same time zone. Even if we admit that the current time for Astana is acceptable, we will have to move the western part to UTC+4,'  the political scientist said on Telegram.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina