Urban expansion plan approved for Herat city

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): An urban expansion and rehabilitation plan for western Herat city’s 15 districts, along with the creation of two new districts, has been approved in response to growing congestion and the return of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, particularly Iran.

Recently, more than one million returnees have fueled a surge in housing and commercial construction activity in the province.

Maulvi Abdullah Akbari, head of urban development and housing, said the plan was drafted by technical teams of the ministry concerned and municipality and later approved by the Ministry of Urban Development in Kabul.

He explained the aim was to better organize the city and prevent unregulated construction.

Municipality spokesman Mohammad Naser Armal stressed that expansion of urban districts would ease pressure caused by overcrowding.

The municipality is responsible for providing necessary services including new areas in its development programs, Armal added.

Meanwhile, some returnees from Iran have started investing in block-making and small construction projects, creating jobs for themselves and others.

Abdul Sattar, one returnee, said he is building a house on his land but rising demand has made construction materials scarce. “For the past four weeks I’ve been waiting for blocks to complete the concrete casting, but my turn has not yet come,” he added.

hz/ma