Taliban on Wednesday announced the launch of a $150 million residential development project in northern Balkh province, presenting it as part of broader efforts to attract investment and expand urban infrastructure in the country.
The project, known as the Lajward Residential Complex, is being built in Mazar-i-Sharif with funding from the private sector, according to a Taliban statement.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the start of construction, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban deputy prime minister for economic affairs, said the complex would include 1,448 apartments and generate employment for roughly 7,000 people.
According to him, the project will be constructed on about 21 jeribs (10 acres) of land and will include commercial and health facilities, schools, green spaces, a mosque and recreational and sports areas.
Baradar said the Taliban administration remained focused on achieving what he described as “economic independence,” attracting domestic and foreign investment and advancing infrastructure projects across the country.
He described the Lajward complex as part of wider economic initiatives that include the Qosh Tepa Canal project, industrial factories, highway construction and electricity generation efforts.
The announcement also comes as many Afghans continue to face high unemployment, widespread poverty and rising living costs. The United Nations has said more than 22 million people in Afghanistan remain in need of humanitarian assistance.
Critics of the Taliban administration argue that while infrastructure and real-estate projects have increased in some provinces, the broader economy remains deeply fragile and many ordinary citizens continue to struggle with limited job opportunities and deteriorating living conditions.
