The article examines various aspects of the everyday life of the city of Shymkent beginning from 1991. In particular, it comparatively analyzes the changes and difficulties that occurred in the city’s history following the country’s independence, as well as the achievements and positive transformations of the subsequent years. The study also explores the difficulties faced by urban enterprises in the early years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the cessation of operations of factories and enterprises that had previously functioned at full capacity, and the consequences of these processes. The article highlights the daily life of the city’s residents during the hardships of the 1990s and includes excerpts from interviews with eyewitnesses of that period.

To verify the presented facts, archival materials were extensively utilized. The condition of major industrial enterprises in Shymkent during the 1990s was analyzed on the basis of documentary sources. The criminal situation in the city is examined through archival records and statistical reports of the prosecutor’s office. In this context, a special analysis was conducted of developments in the field of education, as well as official misconduct committed by certain public officials. In addition, the article reflects measures implemented by the city administration in the sphere of urban improvement and development. Based on these materials, the factors that have influenced the everyday life of Shymkent’s residents since 1991 are identified as the object of the study.