cable– In a move aimed at improving the structure of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and raising the standard of living for its residents, the Afghan government announced the launch of the “New Cable” project, which is one of the most prominent development projects in the country in recent years.
The project comes in a very important time, as a cable suffers from many problems resulting from accelerated population growth, traffic congestion, and lack of basic services such as water and electricity. The new city, which will be much larger than the current capital, aims to reduce the pressure on the current infrastructure and improve the quality of life for millions of Afghans with difficult living conditions.
Through this project, the Afghan government seeks to create a smart and developed city, which depends on modern infrastructure, technology, and integrated facilities that include education, health, and transportation, which will make it an economic center and a country to many job opportunities.
The project also aims for the new city to be a starting point for stimulating local and international investments, which helps to develop the Afghan economy in a sustainable manner.
However, as is the case with any huge project in an unstable environment, the new Cable project faces many challenges, including economic and administrative challenges, which makes its implementation require double efforts by the government, the private sector, and the international community. Despite these challenges, this project is an important step towards stability and development in Afghanistan, and it is likely to be the beginning of a new stage of urban development and modernization in the country.
The beginning of the idea and the objectives of the project
The idea of establishing the new city of Kabul dates back to the era of the former Afghan government, which was seeking to find long -term solutions to urban challenges in the capital.
At that time, the project was presented as part of government efforts to treat population overcrowding and lack of basic services. The project of building the new city of Kabul was approved 13 years ago in the cabinet during the presidency of Hamid Karzai.
The preparation of its main plan in 2010 was completed by the Japanese Institute “JICA”, and it is said that the preparation of this main plan cost $ 60 million. However, the idea did not witness any actual implementation due to the security and economic challenges facing the country.
After changing the system of government in August 2021, the idea was revived again, and the actual work of the project began in 2024 under the supervision of the new government led by the Taliban and the new Cable Development Authority.
The project aims to improve the quality of life in a cable, as it is expected that the new city will accommodate up to 3 million people. The city will provide advanced facilities that include water, electricity, roads, and sanitation networks, as well as modern residential and commercial areas.
In a special statement to Al -Jazeera Net, he confirmed Chairman of the New Cable Development Authority Engineer Iqbal Mirzada said that his technical and specialized team is constantly monitoring construction work in the new city of Kabul. He said, “Working to build the new city of Kabul is proceeding at a rapid pace, as we develop the infrastructure in an integrated manner, and we are committed to providing advanced residential and commercial facilities that meet the needs of the population.”
Mirzada added: “The ongoing work in Part (B) of the first stage includes building 5 residential blocks of 5 floors, two floors and 3 -storey residential buildings, in addition to building a mosque, and the construction of surrounding walls for housing units, as well as working to develop roads and installation of lighting in the region.”
He also pointed out that “the work is not limited to construction only, but also includes the settlement of large parts of agricultural lands, and planning and implementing the road network in the region,” stressing that the efforts of the Ministry of Construction and Housing aim to accelerate the process to improve the daily life of citizens in the near future.
Progress in the project stages
The Afghan Ministry of Construction and Housing announced that the development plan for the first stage of the new city of Kabul was approved, and that work is underway in the first and second sections of this stage. “It is expected that the speed of the work will increase in the first stage after the completion of the development plan, especially in the piece A, where the national company promised to complete its projects after the approval of the plan,” Kamal Afghani, a ministry spokesman, told Al -Jazeera Net.
The officials of the ministry confirmed that the project is in line with international standards, and will be implemented according to the specified timetable. Sayed Model Amin, who is in charge of the project, also indicated that dozens of their subsidiaries are working to fully implement this project, according to international standards.
Challenges and opinions of experts
Despite the great ambitions of the project, it faces a number of challenges that may hinder its entire implementation. Among the most prominent of these challenges:
- Economic Challenges: The project needs huge financing, and may face difficulties in attracting foreign investments due to the political and economic situation in the country and the sanctions imposed on the country.
- Administrative challenges: The project requires great coordination between government agencies and the private sector, which may be difficult in light of the current circumstances.
- Land acquisition problem: About 40% of the lands designated for the project have been acquired by individuals with influence, which impedes the implementation of the project.
- Security challenges: Despite the start of the first phase of the project in 2023, the unstable security situation led to the delay in the implementation of the project on the specified timetable.
- Legal and administrative challenges: complex administrative and legal processes in Afghanistan, including problems in the transition and purchase of lands, may lead to the slowdown of the project.
- Local opposition: In some areas, the local population may oppose the project for social or economic reasons, especially if there are negative effects on their lives or major changes in the local structure.
A number of Afghan economic experts expressed their views on the new Kabul project, most notably Dr. Ahmed Shah Ahmadi, as he believes that the project carries great potential to stimulate the Afghan economy.
In an interview with Al -Jazeera Net, Ahmadi considered that “the project represents a unique opportunity to stimulate the growth of the construction and services sectors, which will provide thousands of job opportunities for many Afghans, and directly enhance the local economy.” He added: “If a safe and stable environment is provided, this project can attract large foreign investments, which is extremely important for Afghanistan at this stage in which it seeks to rebuild its economy.”
The professor of economics at the University of Kabul Abdullah Hotel also expressed his optimism about the project in terms of its ability to improve the Afghan economy in the long run. He said: “If the various stages of the project are completed in an organized and effective manner, it can contribute to the development of many Afghan industries, such as building and real estate development, in addition to the sub -sectors such as energy and transportation.”
He added: “The project will improve people’s living and reduce poverty levels in general, by providing new jobs and improving living conditions in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which raises the level of demand for local products and services.”
