Revitalizing Afghan Cities through Planning, Law, and Cooperation

Speech at Third National Urban Conference of Afghanistan

Keypoints: 

• Urban Development: Cities drive national growth and connect all sectors.
• Strategic Reform: Urban progress requires analysis, policy-making, and effective implementation.
• Land & Property: Proper land management and secure ownership protect public welfare.
• Governance & Law: Transparency, anti-corruption, and strong legal systems ensure good urban management.
• Municipal Reform: Strong institutions and competitive leadership improve city performance.
• Infrastructure & Housing: Water, energy, waste systems, and affordable housing create livable cities.
• Urban Economy: Cities generate jobs, support trade, and encourage public–private cooperation.
• Urban Identity & Responsibility: Cultural design and citizen participation strengthen sustainable cities.

Location: Salam Khana Palace, The Arg

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Excellencies the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the Meshrano Jirga, the President of the Ulema Council of Afghanistan, honorable members of the Cabinet, the leadership of the urban sector—Mr. Sadat Naderi—and most importantly, dear guests, sisters, and brothers! 

Welcome!

The thoughts I share with you are in four sections:

Section One: Gratitude and Congratulations

First, starting with thanks and congratulations! Thank you for coming from all corners of Afghanistan and taking part in an infinitely important national discourse. This discourse has immense results, because I hope you have seen the change in the situation between last year’s conference and today. I will come back to this point.

Also, congratulations first to the urban leadership, the urban sector, and all the mayors and officials who have come; the Minister of Justice, the honorable President of the Land Authority (Arazi), the Chief Justice, and the security sector. Because the urban sector is not just a sector—it is the point of intersection for all sectors. The title you chose for the conference cannot be achieved by one hand, one group, or one council; therefore, I particularly express my gratitude for the actions taken and the manner of cooperation that has been created, and for giving me the opportunity to be with you.

Welcome to your home (the Arg). The resident of this house can only have the honor of serving you based on your free vote. No one else can live here. Only the representative of the people, based on the free vote of the people and the Constitution of Afghanistan, finds the honor of serving you. As your first servant, I am grateful to you and welcome you to your home.

Section Two: Analysis, Policy, and Implementation

Second, is celebration. I express my gratitude to the children and our colleagues who very clearly illustrated the problems, and I truly thank the delegation that worked with them.

Every task has three stages: Stage one is "Analysis," stage two is "Policy Making," and stage three is "Implementation." If correct analysis does not exist, we spend resources in the wrong places. The issue our sister raised in her poem goes to the heart of the analysis. For the mobilization of the urban sector, you do not need foreign money; this is a fundamental issue. We must banish "intellectual poverty" from the urban sector. The urban sector is sitting on gold, yet it imagines that it is worthless copper. Why? Because the use of land in a fundamental way can become the core axis for the security and prosperity of our people.

Therefore, the use of land and the problems we have created form the first stage of "Analysis." Our urban sector in past years was the result of many problems and existed in an intellectual vacuum. I express my thanks to the diplomatic corps and our international colleagues. We have always waited for some foreigner to come and give us an amount of money so we can build a building. We cannot build a city building-by-building; we build a city heart-to-heart!

Therefore, analysis is the first axis. I express my gratitude for both the second and third urban conferences. My request is that you diagnose five major problems for the short-term and medium-term, because everything cannot be done in one year. Let us set realistic goals so that the mutual contract is based on that, and at the same time, let us have a medium-term vision.

The second stage is "Policy Making." One of our fundamental problems in the urban sector was the non-existence of a specific and clear policy. We had not proposed decision-making institutions that could speak on all elements of the urban sector from one side, and then speak on other urban dimensions from the other.

Mr. Yasin spoke about procurement; the greatest change has come in procurement. I congratulate Mr. Yari [Head of the National Procurement Authority] because the international review conducted regarding transparency gave the most congratulations to them. Thank you for your hard work!

Seventy-two sessions of the High Commission of Procurement have taken place. At the high level of decision-making—Mr. Yasin—there is no problem; the problem is in the Ministries. Because now we are moving to the "second stage of corruption," and this corruption must be diagnosed. But you are also partners in corruption; stand up against corruption! If you are forced, come and expose the corrupt. It cannot be one-sided; we have serious problems on both sides. The problem of our construction companies in the past, with your permission, was also very serious.

A large part of the goal was to get the contract, not to complete the contract. The very clear necessity that came in this analysis is that now, by the grace of God, contracts have come into existence that can complete the work. I truly congratulate the contractors, the Ministry of Urban Development, and the Ministry of Finance for the Khwaja Rawash project. We must all work together, and especially the people. This was a project, sisters and brothers, where people had sold their carpets or jewelry to become owners of an apartment; but they had absolutely lost hope. The Minister of Urban Development committed in front of them that he would perform this work in three months or he would resign. This type of commitment is a commitment the people welcome. The work was done in three months, and I had the honor of inaugurating it; there were 2,014 apartments that were completed. The point is that if there is transparency and a shared will, we can reach a result. Over 17,000 apartments are under work—more than 17,000—and this will increase, God willing.

In the analysis stage, serious policy problems existed that are still not removed; but what is different between last year and now is that we understand what things to reform.

The other stage is "Implementation." The fundamental issue is that our government and departments, in the current way they are organized, do not have "absorption capacity." Transparent spending needs an effective and efficient administration. Wasting money is very easy; but spending money in a transparent and effective way and providing services to the people creates serious problems both in the private sector and in the government. Tonight I have the first meeting with the Meshrano Jirga; because tomorrow the budget goes to them and after that to the Wolesi Jirga. We need a national discourse to fundamentally diagnose and remedy the problems of spending. In this section, human power is a major part.

With the utmost respect to the private sector, they do not have the capacity for design. In the buildings being built, they do not have design capacity. If, God forbid, the first earthquake hits, will several of these high-rise buildings built here withstand the earthquake? How many of our buildings and townships have sewage? These fundamental issues must be diagnosed.

My conclusion is that we must absolutely and clearly define the problems we have so that a foundation exists—where we started and where we are going. Without a fundamental understanding of the problems, we cannot progress. At the same time, the positive achievements and capacities we have must also be understood; but an impartial analysis from the people, civil society, and our professional unions is infinitely necessary. My request is that this must be created "skin-off" (plainly/plain-spoken); in the judicial and legal sector, the Chief Justice and the Attorney General performed the same task. Until the foundation of where we start is clear, we cannot move forward.

Section Three: Mobility

There are numerous problems. The enemies of Afghanistan have the goal and wish that the entire focus of this nation be on war. If sixteen hours of work a day is not enough, we will reach twenty hours. Give the message to the enemies of Afghanistan that we can always think in multiple dimensions and we never forget the security of our people. This means we make the tools of decision-making clearer. A few points in this section:

First; the Urban Council has been created and its sections are clear; the mechanism of decision-making and implementation is carried out with clarity.

Second; the Water and Land Council was created, and as you saw, the fundamental issue of "property" and "ownership" has a direct connection. The most fundamental issue in our cities is that today our people do not have secure property. Our promise to you is that the property of the people, especially the poorest layers of this society, will be secured. They will become owners of legal (Shari'i) deeds. The poor people of Afghanistan have the most sacrifice from the perspective of the non-existence of a clear urban policy. They go through a hundred problems to get a piece of land customarily or create a house customarily, and tomorrow they are put under pressure by everyone. Now there is a clear necessity to see mobility—that policies have gone from the paper to the stage of action.

The third sign of mobility is the appointment of Mayors. More than twenty Mayors were hired based on very clear competition and specific plans. As a result of this hiring, revenue in municipalities has increased by more than 300 million Afghanis in the past six months, and this is still the beginning of the work. Every Mayor is forced to propose and manage a plan for urban security and growth.

Fourth; the most major subject is the creation of the High Council for the Rule of Law. I truly thank the Chief Justice and all other colleagues in this section, because the fight against corruption in our judicial and legal apparatus has started seriously. This discussion, and the first experience where after this land deeds (Qabala) are managed by the Land Authority (Arazi), is under work between Arazi and the Supreme Court so that courts can fundamentally reach their original duties. The fundamental point is that without the rule of law and an impartial, professional, and committed judiciary, we cannot guarantee the property and ownership of the people. Also regarding the High Economic Council.

Alongside this is the creation of a vision. First, the current state of Kabul as the capital is truly regrettable. What is our vision? It is very simple: we want that, as in the time of Babar, poets of different languages say poems in praise of Kabul, not that they bring the pain of Kabul into poetry. Today there is consensus on Kabul. The capital of Afghanistan must be a dignified and dynamic city. The plans for this are being created.

We thank Mr. Jami for mentioning several major issues. The issue of water—some things, Mr. Jami, take time between analysis and action. A fundamental review of Kabul’s water needs has been taken up, as well as a review of Kabul’s waste. From the beginning, the fundamental point was that information was so scattered that it took four months for us to collect previous studies from sixty years ago and bring them into one framework. After that, several very reputable international companies—one of which has worked for over a hundred years in France on sewage and water management—worked on this and has now come with specific proposals.

The creation of the Capital Zone Development Authority is another step to measure all of Kabul’s connections with neighboring cities in neighboring provinces.

In the section of sewage, you saw that for the first time we activated the labor force and emptied more than sixty thousand tons of waste materials in one week, which will continue; but the fundamental issue is the environment. The waste that has been transferred is a fundamental danger to Kabul’s underground waters. Plans are at hand not only on how these should be managed fundamentally, but there is high hope that between 16 and 25 megawatts of electricity will come to us from waste treatment. These are steps that have been taken, and no matter how much money we have, if it is not managed fundamentally, it brings secondary problems. I hope that in next year’s conference, we can provide you with better news in these sections.

Another part of our fundamental action in the city of Kabul is that we started from the Darulaman Palace, and you saw that we did not wait for external help. I thank the Minister of Finance, who increased our revenue by 22% last year and this year reached the goal three months before the year was complete.

The key to wealth is in our own hands, but our point regarding Kabul involves several other things:

1. Ninety percent of government departments will move to Darulaman. The wish of King Amanullah Khan Ghazi is being implemented. This "unfinished chapter" of Afghan history does not remain unfinished; it is being completed.

2. A fundamental plan for Kabul is at hand so that the river, mountains, and hills of Kabul and its historical artifacts are under the care of the people.

3. Secure housing.

4. Affordable housing.

The Citizens’ Charter program is so that every alley (Gozar) of Afghanistan’s cities shares in a broad popular vision. My complaint is against the most reputable people of Kabul—my complaint is not against the points where people are sitting on the mountains; my complaint is from Wazir Akbar Khan, Shahr-e-Naw, Karte 3, Karte 4, and Khair Khana. Why? Your houses are each worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, some of them worth millions; do you not have the courage to pave your roads and secure your alleys? Daily, you give something to your bodyguards that could change all your roads into asphalt. If, by the blessing of this soil in these fifteen years, you became owners of everything, the necessity is that you give a little charity (Sadqa) according to Islamic principles. We don't want anything else, sisters and brothers! Only pay the tax, the sanitation fee (Safayi), the price of rent, and the sale according to Shari'i and principled documents.

I request from my international colleagues: please, do not be partners in this corruption. [Laughter and applause from the audience] [With a laugh:] When a house owner comes and asks you to show the price of rent as half—for the sake of God and the Quran, do not do it.

But the other part is directed at the honorable Municipality and Water Supply, and that is: taxes do not happen without "services." Yesterday we had a primary discussion in the High Economic Council; the guilds were complaining that they must be registered centrally, and the Municipality also wants to register them separately. We asked the Deputy Mayor of Kabul; he threw two articles of the law in our face. The same article says that in exchange for services, taxes must be taken. Brothers, collecting revenue without services is not permitted. Provide services so that people trust you and see their money in motion. Other than this, it is one-sided. Let the Deputy Mayor not be blamed for coming sooner. Mr. Habibizai brought movement, and I thank him; but no matter how much I asked him what services you provide to these guilds, his tongue hesitated. [Jokingly:] Forgetfulness perhaps comes from non-provision. [Pashto:] It is necessary that this changes; God willing, this is changing. In Kabul Municipality, very many changes have come; in other municipalities, changes will also come. But the necessity is that our merchant and every one of our residents sees for themselves that their money is working for them. The people of Afghanistan have very good judgment, sisters and brothers! If they know someone is working for them, they appreciate them! The Deputy Speaker of the Meshrano Jirga and I went to inaugurate the Khwaja Rawash project; the people came and said, "Appreciate this man." If only every Minister would make this kind of commitment—so, thank you, Minister!

Another point is our broad urban vision. First, a network of Mayors is being created who must see each other, and there are very large opportunities to share with one another. I was in Firoz Koh on Friday; Ghor is among the very proud and at the same time very deprived provinces of Afghanistan. This was my fourth trip in fourteen years, and now at least a city is being created. But what I noticed is that the government has worked building-by-building in Firoz Koh, not based on a broad vision.

The necessity is clear that we design the townships and future cities of Afghanistan with a clear plan. Regarding the districts, I express my thanks to the Minister of Urban Development and his colleagues for providing a standard design.

The most important other task they have performed is the proposal of standardized mosques. If you go from Turkey to Iran, you immediately understand by seeing the first mosque that we have moved from one Muslim culture to another. Our people spend the most money on holy mosques. The President of the Ulema Council is present. A clear style of Afghan architecture must be revived, and in this section, hundreds and thousands of people must be trained.

The first commitment of the government regarding the reconstruction of historical mosques is being implemented. Our commitment is that every year we will reconstruct the major historical mosques of Afghanistan and arrange new mosques with a clear and specific map. My request from our urban sector, both the private and government sectors, is: please align engineering with our national and Islamic culture. If these concrete buildings are necessary, fine; but the facade at least should be with tilework (Kashi). Why is our calligraphy dying out? I hope this magnificent session proposes a clear discussion regarding the cultural dimensions of our urban planning. Do you want to live in a city—any city of Afghanistan—that is connected with its deep historical past, or do you want to create American or European cities? A city has a soul, and the soul springs from our religious and national culture, which for us is one thing.

The necessity is that we perform this discussion as well, so that we can not only create secure cities but create cities of pride—cities that are livable.

Mobility has been created and this mobility is appreciable; however, it is not enough. The first person to admit this is the Minister of Urban Development, because our serious problems still remain. Therefore, our request and final word is "Transformation" (Tahawul); a fundamental transformation in the state of Afghanistan’s cities must come. Minister of Urban Development! This conference must decide what the play of our children on stage should be three years from now. Will our kindergartens come under the shadow of Zor-abad (City of Force/Illegality)? If you see the different cities of Afghanistan, they generally have two places: Zar-abad (City of Gold) and Zor-abad. Destroy the Zor-abads. Those colleagues of ours who have found Zar (wealth)—we like their wealth, and we provide the ground for them in a legitimate and reasonable way to come into motion; but please, say goodbye to bullying (Zorgoyee). The people of Afghanistan never accept force.

Section Four: Transformation

Therefore, the issue that remains in the subject of transformation is "Land Grabbing." We have had movement, and around four hundred thousand acres of grabbed land have been returned. In the urban situation, fundamentally, next year the focus will be on grabbing. That is the negative side of the use of force; the positive side is that the government must become the driver, the planner, and the partner. Who is the partnership with? First, the partnership is with the people.

I always listen to you because I have come from among you, and as a citizen in Kabul, I always suffer. I was among the first people who went to Darulaman. At that time, people thought, "Is the madman's head eaten by a snake? How does he go to Darulaman?" It took one hour to go eight kilometers through the mud. The people have serious problems; but the government must make programs from the pulse of the people so that the programs we make are with participation. Now my request from civil society and the people is to provide the ways of ease. We want all illegal points where people with low or medium income live to be legalized; but this needs help from you. We cannot at the same time expropriate the infrastructure and provide the conditions for you. Clear ways have been created in Japan and other places where, through your participation, your property turns into legal property. If you want to see a living example in the region, look at Ankara. Ankara sixty years ago and Ankara today are as different as the earth and the sky, because participation was created.

Second, the private sector is our fundamental partner. The private sector can have very clear profits by building affordable housing. The arrangement of zones in different points—how many floors and in what way they are built—is a fundamental point.

The most major subject from the perspective of the government, municipalities, and all parts of the government is the effective use of land. We do not sell land. Do you think the very high-quality lands of the center and the cities are sold to you? No. A partnership that continuously turns into national capital is the way to progress. On this basis, God willing, we can take action.

Look from the perspective of the region. We always call Afghanistan the "Heart of Asia"; Iqbal said it better than anyone; but this heart is blocked, and the point of movement for this heart is the connected cities. Twenty provinces of Afghanistan are in border areas. You have a grand opportunity, Mr. Sadat, so that we can connect these. Every province must simultaneously be a transit province. Therefore, the role of transport, its planning, and the services we provide must be fundamental.

My final point. We were passing over Kabul by helicopter. I said to Dr. Qayoumi—may he be remembered well, he is not here this week—"What did you see?" He said, "Let me tell you what I did not see." I said, "Yes?" He said, "I did not see centers of work in Kabul. All of this is houses. What do their residents live on?" Therefore, our cities must be measured on the basis of: how do we produce wealth and create work? How do we connect with our villages? The city and the village are connected like a chain, and the worst part of our urban life today is that we import even our fruit and vegetables from outside. The plan that must be created is on this: to connect the Afghan as an Afghan—woman, man, urban, nomad, and villager—so that a strong national economy is created. I hope this conference provides the ground for this. Again, I express gratitude to all of you for coming.