Experts discuss who influenced the time zone changes in Kazakhstan.

Astana. December 15. KAZAKHSTAN TODAY - Experts have raised concerns regarding the increasing dependence of Kazakhstan on foreign consulting firms, citing the issue of time zone changes, as reported by inbusiness.kz .

The activities of foreign consulting companies (editor's note) extend far beyond mere advisory roles. They create a dependency that ultimately undermines the country's independence and threatens national security. In countries where foreign consultants operate, they actively promote the idea of a compact government. The goal is clear - reducing the state apparatus makes the government reliant on external consultants who assume key functions. The outcome is evident: the capabilities of the state diminish, while the ranks of consultants grow. Consultants are increasingly replacing strategic functions of power, and today both legislative and executive branches are already under their influence," said expert Daniyar Nurseitov from the Scientific Research Institute of Audit Activities and Financial Reporting.

The expert cited the example of the time zone change, noting that this issue is often accompanied by references to international specialists, including the Alliance for Natural Time, established in 2020 without substantial medical and economic justification.

He emphasized that the time change should be viewed through the lens of the "tariff in exchange for investments" approach, likely proposed by companies such as McKinsey or BCG. According to him, this approach essentially means that the missing investments are effectively extracted from the pockets of the population. The time shift, as the expert noted, contributes to an increase in such "investments," turning the population into a funding source for the energy sector.

The expert also pointed out that despite the acute issue of budget deficit reduction and cost-cutting faced by the state, the quasi-public sector is reluctant to economize on foreign consultants or the remuneration of the board of directors, which in some cases includes foreign nationals. He stated that instead of downsizing the state apparatus, there is a degradation of it.

Officials are losing their ability to make independent decisions; the analytical functions of government bodies have effectively been handed over to foreign experts. Instead of scientific research and justification, references to the opinions of external consultants are being used," he said.

According to Daniyar Nurseitov, foreign consulting firms have significantly strengthened their presence in Kazakhstan. In particular, McKinsey, BCG (Boston Consulting Group), and companies from the "Big Four" collectively employ over 3,000 staff.

There is also concern that Kazakhstan risks losing control over its economy and strategic assets by entrusting the management of key processes to foreign consulting firms. Daniyar Nurseitov believes that their activities reduce transparency, exacerbate corruption, and threaten the independence of the state. Without comprehensive measures, the country could find itself under external management, where even political decisions will be dictated from outside Kazakhstan.

Vladimir Murashov, Chairman of the Board of JSC "Auditor's Collegium," proposed several solutions to address the current situation.

First, to secure sovereignty in auditing and consulting activities. He suggests amending the law on auditing to eliminate the monopoly of the professional council and transfer its functions to a competitive environment, thereby supporting domestic companies.

Second, to protect strategic facilities. Vladimir Murashov proposes limiting foreign companies' access to critical sites to prevent information leaks and removing individuals associated with foreign consultants from the boards of quasi-public sector enterprises.

Third, to monitor the activities of foreign consultants. Murashov suggests imposing a moratorium on the procurement of their services by government bodies and the quasi-public sector. Additionally, it is essential to publish data on legislative initiatives based on recommendations from such consultants.

Fourth, to analyze laws and decisions made under the influence of international organizations to eliminate provisions that threaten sovereignty. He also considers it important to remove the procurement of consulting and auditing services from the special procurement procedures. It is worth noting that in Kazakhstan, the clocks were set back one hour on the night of March 1, 2024. Most residents of Kazakhstan opposed the transition to a single time zone. A petition was launched in the country to revert to the previous time zone, which quickly garnered 50,000 votes. On August 2, the Ministry of Trade rejected the petition.

During the consideration of the petition, speakers noted that the scientific groundwork for the "time" reform, if it existed at all, was conducted in a completely closed manner. They were unable to find any publicly available research from Kazakhstani scholars who developed the reform. Moreover, the academic credentials of some of the so-called experts raised questions. Those who were positioned as scholars had no publications in reputable scientific journals.

The "Sandyzh" research center conducted a sociological study on the impact of a single time zone on citizens of Kazakhstan. Its results indicated that the single time zone negatively affected 11.5 million Kazakhs. The time change adversely impacted health, well-being, sleep, safety, and trade, leading to an increase in traffic accidents and a rise in electricity consumption, particularly felt in the eastern regions.

It is important to note that in November, a survey on the time change appeared on eGov mobile. It was available in the app for three days before it disappeared .

Previously, a Kazakhstani researcher examined the experience of Chile, where a 20% reduction in daylight hours led to increased crime rates. The Kazakhstani drew parallels between the Chilean study and the implementation of the single time zone in Kazakhstan.

The establishment of a single time zone in Kazakhstan has been discussed repeatedly by both local and international experts.

Renowned family doctor and pediatrician Dmitry Kireev spoke about the negative consequences of the time change.

An American chronobiologist described the decision of Kazakhstan's authorities to change the clock as strange and warned that lack of sleep could exacerbate inflammatory processes in the body, potentially leading to diabetes, kidney diseases, and other long-term health complications.

Leading expert- somnologist from Russia, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Honored Physician of the Russian Federation, founder of the Russian Society of Somnologists, Professor, and one of the pioneers of somnology in the CIS, Roman Buzunov, also commented on the time change in Kazakhstan. He humorously referred to what happened in Kazakhstan as a "conspiracy of elderly larks."

Endocrinologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences Denis Lebedev discussed the negative health consequences that some Kazakhs may face after the transition to a single time zone. Sleep deprivation and disruptions in sleep and wake cycles have detrimental effects, the expert stated.

Well-known Kazakhstani educator and biologist Alexander Kintzel shared with a journalist from Kazakhstan Today the severe consequences for Kazakhs resulting from the time change to one hour earlier.

Who initiated Kazakhstan's transition to a single time zone?

Deputy Yelnur Beisenbaev drew attention to the public outcry and widespread disagreement among Kazakhs regarding the unification of time zones. According to the Majilis member, 10 million people do not agree with the government's decision. Members of the AMANAT party proposed to conclude the research on the single time zone by March 2025.