Could Kazpost Be Closed in Kazakhstan's Villages? Prime Minister Responds to Deputies' Concerns

In Kazakhstan, authorities may begin closing Kazpost branches in villages across the country. This was previously stated by deputies addressing the Prime Minister about the company's problems. In his response, the head of government explained the situation, Orda.kz reports.

About problems in the industry

According to the deputies, the state does not comply with its own laws and underfunds the delivery of periodicals in rural areas. The senators reminded that according to the law, the state must cover the difference between costs and revenues from unprofitable communication services.

This may lead to mass closure of rural post offices. Kazpost JSC ensures the presence of the state in 6,000 rural settlements, where 7.5 million citizens live – about 40% of the population of Kazakhstan. the deputies noted in their request.

One of the arguments of the authorities was digitalization.

But this approach is wrong and detached from the real state of affairs in the regions. Despite the implementation of state programs, in remote and hard‑to‑reach rural settlements, there is no stable broadband Internet, or it works with serious interruptions.the request to the prime minister stated. 

The deputies warned: if postal routes are reduced in Kazakhstan, residents of such regions may find themselves in information isolation. In addition, Kazpost in the villages performs not only a logistical function. It is effectively the only representation of the state – through its branches, people receive pensions, benefits and make payments.

The deputies also pointed to disagreements between state structures. The Ministry of Finance cites limited budgets and the fiscal deficit. The Ministry of Digital Development acknowledges the deficit but lacks tools to address it, prioritizing digital projects that are physically inaccessible in some villages. Meanwhile, the senators noted, the Ministry of Culture and Information appears to distance itself from the issue of subsidies.

The full proposals from senators to improve Kazpost's situation can be found at the link.

What did the government answer

In his response, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said that in 2026, 500 million tenge was allocated for subsidizing universal postal services. At the same time, he reminded that according to the law, the amount of subsidies cannot exceed the amount allocated in the republican budget.

The Cabinet of Ministers also reported that the Ministry of Digital Development has already submitted an additional request for 2.8 billion tenge. It is now being reviewed in accordance with established procedures.

Separately, the Prime Minister focused on additional support measures. Since November 2025, Kazpost has been eligible for reimbursement of costs for cash delivery to rural settlements under procedures established by the National Bank. In February 2026, the company was reimbursed 3.5 billion tenge for its 2025 expenses.

The idea proposed by deputies to transfer responsibility for subsidizing the delivery of printed publications to the Ministry of Culture and Information was not supported by the government.

"Currently, the issue of transferring the authority to subsidize periodical delivery to the Ministry of Culture and Information is not being considered,"the response stated. 

As for vacant post office premises, the Cabinet of Ministers said that a separate program is unnecessary – Kazpost is already working on their utilization independently. Among further plans, the Prime Minister concluded, are infrastructure development and the company's IPO in 2028.

The editorial board is preparing an official request to obtain further details on the situation.

Original author: Saule Abdykamit

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