Kabul Urban Survey - Groupe URD

framework. Upgrading of informal settlements is proven to be an effective tool for improving
the quality life of large numbers of the poor….
1. City specific urban poverty reduction programs also need to be developed, which link skill
development, employment and income generation opportunities to local economic
development. Dealing with the informally developed areas, for providing legal status as
wells as
2. Protection and expansion of green areas.
The KM leadership also considers improved water supply and sewerage a high priority for
the city.”
4.2.5 Clarifying planning institutions and the role of Kabul city
One of the major reasons for all the difficulties and delays encountered in the urban
rehabilitation process are the different roles of the two major institutions, the Ministry of
Urban Development and the Municipality for Kabul, and the non clarification of institutional
issues. In a document presented in November 2005 13 , Pathak gave a precise analysis of the
institutional situation within the existing legal framework. The question remains as to who is
responsible for revising the Master Plan: “Therefore, the institutional issue pertaining to
planning for Kabul needs to be resolved urgently without further delay”.
Legal provisions giving Kabul a leading role in its planning
• According to Presidential Decree Number 919, 20-05-1381 (2002), Pathak confirms that
the design and amendment of “the General Master Plan is carried out by Central Office of
Architecture and Planning (now the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing or
MUDH) in collaboration with its sub-offices in consultation with municipalities”, but she
highlights that the “control and supervision of implementation of Master Plans is the
responsibility of the Master Plan designer and municipalities.”
• Pathak also details how the Joint Resolution of the Leadership of the Ministry of Urban
Development and Housing and Municipality of Kabul, 4-4-1383 (July, 2004) has evolved
where it is stated that for Kabul Municipality “the department of design and
implementation of city planning should work under the organizational structure of Kabul
Municipality……., and Ministry of Urban Development and Housing will set up a
commission of experts and specialists in its organizational structure for approval of city
plans.”
• The Presidential Decree Number 1673 (July 2004) states that “the City Planning
Department of Kabul Municipality should be under the control of Kabul Municipality…. In
response, the President referred the KM request to the High Commission for Urban
Development to solve the problem of Kabul Municipality according to the law.”
• “The High Commission for Urban Development recommended that (Number 48,
dated 8-5-1383), in accordance with the Protocol between MUDH and KM, the City
Planning Department should work under the authority of Kabul Municipality, specify their
jobs and should implement it as before. The commission’s recommendation clearly made
the City Planning Department an integral part of the KM institutional structure. However, it
did not specifically recommend any legal action to re-confirm the Master Planning
responsibility of Kabul city as before. Therefore, Commission’s recommendation offered
only a partial solution to the confusion over city planning responsibility between KM and
MUDH.”
The confusion over responsibilities in terms of the development process in Kabul does not
appear to become any clearer with the High Commission recommendations.
13 Pathak P, Planning, Roles and Recommendations for Kabul City, Kabul, 2005
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