DUSHANBE/KHUJAND, July 18, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- A two-day visit of Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov to the northern Sughd province concluded on July 17.

During his stay in the province, the prime minister reportedly got acquainted with the process of construction of the jubilee facilities.

Oqilov, in particular, visited the Arbob Cultural Palace in the Bobojonghafurov district.  This facility that hosted the 16th session of Tajikistan’s Supreme Council in November of 1992 is currently under major repairs.

The Arbob Cultural Palace is a building in Bobojonghafurov district, the former headquarters of a Soviet collective farm, built in the 1950s and modeled on the winter gardens of Peterhof, St. Petersburg.  The main building consists of three wings - with an ornate theatre seating 800 people in the main wing.  The South wing currently houses a museum which tells the history of Arbob and of collectivization in Tajikistan.  Outside the building is a procession of fountains and rose gardens.  The center was built under the leadership of Saidkhoja Urunkhojayev, the head of the collective farm.

In the city of Istaravshan, the prime minister visited a new 20,000-seat stadium under construction.  Celebrations to mark introduction of the Shahriston Tunnel into operation will take place at this stadium in September this year.

During his stay in Sughd, Oqilov also familiarized himself with the process of construction of the Shahriston Tunnel and rehabilitation of the Ayni-Panjakent highway, the source said.