hokim

Hokim is a title used in several Central Asian countries to designate the chief executive of a region or district. The term is derived from the Persian and Arabic word hakim, meaning ruler, administrator, or judge, and in Uzbek and Tajik is rendered as hokim. The role generally denotes the senior administrative official responsible for implementing national policy, coordinating public services, and overseeing local government.

In Uzbekistan, hokims oversee viloyat (region) administrations as well as tuman (district) administrations. They act as the executive authority at their level, handling economic development, budgeting, public order, and social services, and they coordinate with central government bodies. The hokim is typically appointed to lead the local administration and to ensure alignment with national programs and priorities.

In Tajikistan, hokims serve as regional and district leaders within the state administration. They coordinate local governance with central government agencies and the president, supervising local officials and public programs and ensuring correspondence with national policies.

Outside of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the term appears in similar contexts in the region and is often translated into English as governor or provincial administrator, depending on the jurisdiction and the level of administration.

The hokim system reflects a governance model in which executive authority at subnational levels is linked to central government, with varying degrees of local oversight and accountability. The title has historical roots in Persianate administrative traditions and has persisted and adapted in modern state structures.