Kabul Urban Survey - Groupe URD

Extract from Pathak, Kabul 2006, “Urban Policy Issues, Priorities and Recommendations for
Kabul” Draft for discussion
- “In 2002, national visions, priorities and strategies are developed within the “National
Development Framework”: Some urban issues were drafted for different afghan cities
:”The key national urban management goals articulating government’s vision for this
sector, included: (i) Investment in a balanced urban development program across the
country: (ii) Municipal infrastructure development in twelve cities; (iii) Opening up energy
and infrastructure sectors to private investment; (iv) Reconstruction and rehabilitation of
the power system; (v) Systematic rebuilding of Kabul and other cities that have been
destroyed.
- In 2004, the “Securing Afghanistan’s Future” recognizes the range of post-conflict
urban development challenges facing Afghanistan with the issues “of land allocation,
uncertain properties rights, critical provision of urban services.”[…] This document also
estimated urban development and investment needs of major cities in the country, with a
purpose of attracting donor funding for urban development priorities.”
- In 2004, a “National Urban Program» was launched as one of the 12 National Priority
Programs, which is an indication of recognition of the urban sector in the national
development. The National Urban Program was designed to provide a cohesive long
term framework for urban development in the country. The Program had a budget of US
$1,085 million for the next 15 Years.
- In 2005 Urban Development and Housing Strategy. The Strategy recognizes that
special attention will be needed to address policy issues facing Kabul City.” The Strategy
also realizes that the urban sector has remained acutely under-funded during the past
four years, while a major proportion of the emergency relief and reconstruction effort was
directed to rural areas. “
- In 2005, the Government of Afghanistan initiated the process of preparing a
comprehensive Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) with the twin
objective of economic development and poverty reduction. As a part of this initiative, an
Urban Development and Housing Strategy has also been prepared that builds on the
past efforts to develop an urban development strategy and program for the country. The
Strategy includes a number of fundable projects for Kabul, other major cities as well as
provincial cities.” 8
• Importance of strengthening Municipal Law
As explained above, a national urban framework is being drawn up at the national level but at
the municipal level there are many gaps and weaknesses. This is the case for all
municipalities in Afghanistan. But Kabul is the Afghan capital and for Kabul Municipality, the
main issue consists in clarifying its role and urban responsibilities on the city within the
institutional game. This implies having a clear institutional statute and looking precisely at the
terms of Municipal Law. Some of the components of Municipal Law need to be revised but
some just need to be applied in order to establish the KM’s capacity and rights to manage its
own city. In 2004, when acting as an advisor for UN-HABITAT, Pathak participated in
discussions on Municipal Law evolution with urban stakeholders, Afghan engineers and
foreign advisors, mayors and senior officials of Kabul, but also from Kandahar, Herat and
Bamiyan municipalities. She summarised the main issues in a draft for discussion “Municipal
Law of Afghanistan” 9 in December 2004. On the basis of this survey, Mac Auslan, a
consultant, prepared a draft on Municipal law in August 2005 in order “to look at the
definition, the structures and functions of and manner of exercising powers by
8 Pathak P., “Urban Policy Issues, Priorities and Recommendations for Kabul, Draft for discussion
Kabul 2006
9 Pathak P., “Municipal Law of Afghanistan”. Draft for discussion, Kabul, 2004
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