June 12, 2025 – Samarkand, Uzbekistan The Zarafshan River plays a critical role in providing water resources for the economies of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Approximately 7.5 million people live within the basin, the majority of whom reside in Uzbekistan, where large agricultural clusters are located in the Samarkand, Navoi, and Bukhara regions. In contrast, the upper part of the basin in Tajikistan is predominantly home to small-scale farmers, mainly engaged in rice cultivation around the Penjikent area.

On May 31, 2025, the High-Level International Conference on Glacier Preservation concluded in Dushanbe, where Central Asian countries, with active support from international organizations, developed priority action areas for protecting glaciers — key sources of water resources for the region.