Emergency services lack sufficient resources.

Senator Calls for More Funding for Emergency Services

In a recent parliamentary query to Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Senator Sergei Ershov has expressed his concerns over inadequate funding for emergency response agencies, according to Total.kz.

At the Senate's plenary session, Ershov highlighted several problems related to civil defense, such as the impact of natural and man-made disasters on economic, social, and other state interests, using examples like the dam breach in the Turkestan region and the fire in Ridder.

He pointed out that emergency services are facing underfunding of material and technical equipment, with only 42% of the existing norms being met. This underfunding also extends to the construction of social facilities meant for population protection and national security.

With this in mind, Ershov has proposed that the 2022 budget should prioritize allocating funds for equipping emergency services with necessary resources, as well as addressing issues regarding housing for emergency personnel and improving the "Civil Defense" law.

Here's a broader overview of the current situation and initiatives in Kazakhstan related to social infrastructure and financing:

Recent Developments- Asset Recovery: Kazakhstan saw a large-scale asset recovery of $1.2 billion, which has been channeled towards social infrastructure projects, including the execution of 280 projects across the nation.

Ongoing Investments- AIIB Investments: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has invested over $2 billion in Kazakhstan across seven major projects, targeting sectors like transport, energy, and healthcare to support sustainable infrastructure development.

Future Initiatives- Sustainable Infrastructure Financing: Efforts are in place to mobilize private capital to address the infrastructure financing gap, with a focus on green investments such as the addition of 420 megawatts of renewable energy through wind farms.

Infrastructure Development Vision: Kazakhstan's national vision prioritizes sustainable infrastructure and clean energy as key components of its development strategy, with active government support for these initiatives and private sector engagement.
Transport and Social Infrastructure: The World Bank underscores the need to expand transport and social infrastructure to tackle regional imbalances in Kazakhstan, aiming to improve job prospects through enhanced transit connectivity.

While specific details about Ershov's concerns regarding social infrastructure construction are scarce, these general trends and initiatives offer some context for understanding the broader landscape of infrastructure development and financing in Kazakhstan.

Senator Sergei Ershov's concerns over inadequate funding for emergency response agencies, particularly regarding material and technical equipment and social facilities construction, are not isolated issues within Kazakhstan's infrastructure.
In response to these concerns, Ershov proposes that the 2022 budget should prioritize allocating funds for equipping emergency services and addressing issues like housing for emergency personnel and improving the "Civil Defense" law, indicating a focus on policy-and-legislation related to emergency services.
It's worth noting that Kazakhstan, generally, has a focus on sustainable infrastructure and clean energy development, as evident in the large-scale asset recovery, AIIB investments, and future initiatives toward green investments.
Despite these ongoing investments and initiatives, Ershov's comments about underfunding and infrastructure construction in relation to emergencies highlight potential gaps in Kazakhstan's general news and politics, pointing towards a need for further discussion and policy action.