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I have removed Shymkent from the metro areas as it does not seem to have any metro area. The article makes no mention of it. This OECD publication said Shymkent metro area in 2009 included Lenger and Koksaek, and had a population of 679,000. But the city has since expanded, absorbing the adjacent towns, to a population of 858,147, effectively eating up the metro area. Batternut (talk) 10:31, 21 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
While noting your recent and valuable updates to Shymkent, I still see no evidence of it having a significant commuter belt, ie having a metro area. Batternut (talk) 19:39, 21 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Whether or not it has a commuter belt is irrelevant. Kazakhstan, similarly to other Post-Soviet states, has as the first level of administrative divisions two possible units - regions or cities with the spacial status. These cities with the special status are typically surrounded by regions (Almaty by Almaty Region, Astana by Akmola Region, and now Shymkent by Turkistan Region), however, they are not subordinated to these regions (like for example Kyzylorda is subordinated to Kyzylorda Region) but are subordinated to the central government. They can contain localities outside the city boundaries, but this does not change the status, which is determined by the government.--Ymblanter (talk) 19:53, 21 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
OK, so it's a terminology issue. Rather than listing them as "metropolitan cities", perhaps a label of "special status cities", or maybe "extra-regional cities" would be better. Astana does mention being a "city with special status" (without any clarification or source though), Almaty doesn't. Batternut (talk) 21:57, 21 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, let me check the Russian sources, and then we could come up with some term.--Ymblanter (talk) 05:35, 22 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Oh, I see, you have done this already. Thanks.--Ymblanter (talk) 05:45, 22 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
A better term may exist... Batternut (talk) 06:05, 22 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]
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