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Taliban re-inaugurate practical work on Kabul New City project

KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban have once again inaugurated the practical work of the Kabul New City project, holding a ceremony on Tuesday attended by their senior officials, including Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister.

The practical work on the project’s first phase had previously been launched by Mr. Hanafi in August 2023.

According to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, the Kabul New City project spans 740 square kilometers—approximately one-and-a-half times the size of the current capital.

Phase 1, Section “B,” will see the construction of 6,600 housing units, designed to accommodate 40,000 people, with the work being carried out by Khawar Construction in collaboration with the ministry.

The Kabul New City

Kabul New City is a large-scale urban development project originally launched in 2006 under Afghanistan’s previous government and formally approved by then-President Hamid Karzai’s cabinet in 2009.

According to the project’s website, the development will cover approximately 722 square kilometers in Deh Sabz, northeast of Kabul. Designed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the initiative aims to address the challenges of overcrowding and infrastructure strain in the current capital.

The project is envisioned as a comprehensive urban development plan with a capacity to house up to three million people. It has been strategically divided into two main phases, each spanning 30 years.

However, progress on the project has faced delays due to a range of challenges, including insecurity. In August 2023, the Taliban administration signed a contract with Khawar Construction to develop Phase 1, Section “B,” marking a formal restart of the project.

A map of the city available on the Kabul New City website.

Tuesday’s ceremony, held on December 10, marked a symbolic relaunch of the initiative. Speaking at the event, Abdul Salam Hanafi described the project as a step toward rebuilding the country.

Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, urged Afghan investors living abroad to return and contribute to the country’s economic recovery.

“We have created all the necessary conditions for investment,” said Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban’s minister of industry and commerce, adding that now is the time for investors to seize opportunities within Afghanistan.

Kabul New City is intended to provide modern metropolitan amenities, aiming to transform the Deh Sabz region into a fully developed urban center. Its planners envision a solution to the growing needs of Kabul’s population, which continues to strain the capital’s limited infrastructure.

Despite its ambitious scope, the project’s future remains uncertain, with political and economic challenges continuing to pose significant hurdles.