ASTANA, July 2. /Dunyo IA/.   Kazakhstan has ratified the protocol amending the intergovernmental agreement with Uzbekistan on checkpoints across the state border, signed on September 4^th, 2006, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing with the “Kazinform” International Information Agency.

According to the document, the “Syrdarya–Malik” and “Tselinny–Ok Oltin” road checkpoints will elevate their status from bilateral to international. Furthermore, they will transition from operating during daylight hours to a 24-hour schedule.

Protocol also stipulates a shift in the border-crossing regime: both checkpoints will be upgraded from accommodating light passenger vehicles only to handling multi-modal cargo and passenger transport.

“Tselinny–Ok Oltin” checkpoint will be accessible to light passenger vehicles, empty cargo vehicles, as well as the transit of oversized and heavyweight cargo and goods.

Concurrently, “Syrdarya–Malik” checkpoint will accommodate light passenger vehicles and empty cargo vehicles, while explicitly excluding the passage of commercial cargo and goods.

It is anticipated that the implementation of the protocol, alongside the comprehensive modernization of checkpoint infrastructure along the Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan section of the state border, will facilitate a more balanced redistribution of vehicular and passenger traffic flows.