Kazakhstan's Senate has ratified a protocol that will upgrade two border crossings with Uzbekistan to international checkpoints, expanding their capacity and improving the flow of people and goods between the neighboring countries.

The updated protocol amends the 2006 bilateral border crossing agreement and grants international status to the Syrdarya-Malik and Tselinny-Oqoltin road checkpoints. Both crossings will also transition from daytime operations to 24-hour service, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

The agreement significantly broadens the role of the checkpoints by allowing them to process freight traffic in addition to passenger vehicles.

Under the new rules, the Tselinny-Oqoltin checkpoint will handle passenger vehicles, empty freight trucks, commercial cargo, as well as oversized and heavy loads. The Syrdarya-Malik crossing will accommodate passenger vehicles and empty freight trucks, while commercial cargo will remain prohibited.

Kazakh officials expect the changes, together with ongoing border infrastructure modernization, to improve traffic distribution across the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border, reduce congestion, and strengthen regional trade and transport links.