KABUL (Pajhwok): The foundation stone for Block B4 of the Peace Residential Project, also known as Macrorayan 5, was laid in the 9th police district of Kabul on Wednesday in the presence of senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Minister of Urban Development and Housing Mawlawi Najibullah Hayat Haqqani, Director-General of the General Directorate of State-owned Corporations Mawlawi Ahmad Jan Bilal and other officials.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund said he was pleased with the launch of the project.
He added that IEA was committed to completing all projects whose work had been halted or delayed by various obstacles under the previous government.
Referring to problems caused by Kabul’s growing population, including unplanned urban expansion, water shortages, disruption of urban order, environmental pollution and a lack of public services, he assured residents that such problems would gradually be reduced through projects such as New Kabul City and Macrorayan 5.
He added that IEA was working to increase such infrastructure projects and implement them according to proper standards to ensure a comfortable and orderly life for citizens.
Baradar called on all national and international investors to invest in housing, urban development and infrastructure alongside other sectors, saying the IEA would provide them with all necessary facilities.
Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi said the project would be developed on 1,300 jeribs of land and was considered one of the country’s major projects.
He added that work on the first phase of Macrorayan 5 was 70 percent complete and that the foundation stone for Block B4, which would comprise 250 buildings, was being laid today.
He noted that various construction standards and facilities had been incorporated into the project.
Hanafi said the need for housing had increased significantly following the arrival of migrants from neighbouring countries.
Meanwhile, Mawlawi Najibullah Hayat Haqqani, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, said significant economic progress had been made across the country over the past five years.
He said the ministry’s plan was to develop the country in a planned manner.
He added that little had been done in the field of urban development over the past 40 years and that efforts were now under way to ensure cities were built according to proper urban plans.
He said another objective of the ministry was to provide housing for all citizens and meet their needs.
Haqqani said work on Macrorayan 5 had begun in 2014 but had faced serious problems and failed to progress.
He said the foundation stone for Block B4 was being laid today and that the project would be built using modern construction methods.
Haqqani added that facilities including a school, mosque, madrasa, recreational areas and other amenities had been incorporated into the project.
He said five-room units would be sold for $100,000, four-room units for $80,000 and three-room units for $60,000.
The Minister of Urban Development and Housing said instalment-based purchases were not currently available due to problems related to buying homes in the township, but the issue would be resolved in the future and people would be able to purchase the units on an instalment basis.
Bahadur Erdogan, head of Bahatrak Construction Company, which is implementing the project, said efforts were being made to apply Turkey’s construction experience in the township to ensure the buildings were strong and durable.
He said 99 percent of the workers on the project were Afghans.
According to the information provided, work on the first phase of Macrorayan 5 is 70 percent complete, with six blocks already completed. The foundation stone for Block B4 was laid today.
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