Reconstruction of Kabul’s Shahr-e Naw Park Begins with Over One Billion Afghanis Investment

The Kabul Municipality has announced the commencement of reconstruction and development work on Shahr-e Naw Park under a public-private partnership project, with a budget exceeding 1.9 billion Afghanis. The project is scheduled to be completed within three years. According to the municipality, Shahr-e Naw Park, covering an area of 90,663 square meters, is one of Kabul’s oldest and most well-known urban parks. The rehabilitation will include foundational and essential renovations as well as development. Approximately 14.32% of the park’s area will be allocated for the construction of a multi-story commercial market, an underground market, a women-only market, recreational zones, restaurants, a mosque, a water play fountain, parking facilities, sports and cultural sections, and a funeral hall. Another section of the park will be dedicated to tree planting, the creation of green spaces, environmental protection systems, and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities—efforts that residents believe will significantly improve the city’s environmental conditions. The Kabul Municipality emphasized that after the project’s completion, public areas of the park will be accessible free of charge to citizens. However, details regarding oversight, financial transparency, and management of the project’s revenue have not yet been clearly explained by the Taliban administration. According to provided information, the project’s revenue arrangement extends for 30 years, with 30% of the income from commercial establishments deposited into the Kabul Municipality’s bank account. Moreover, the contracting company will not hold independent rights to sell, mortgage, pledge, or profit from the park’s facilities.