Jalalabad’s Population Triples in 24 Years Amid Unplanned Urban Expansion
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has reported that Jalalabad, a city in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, has tripled in size over the past 24 years, expanding without any effective urban planning.
According to the report, the city’s rapid and unregulated population growth and geographic expansion have led to reduced access to essential services, increased inequality, and the proliferation of informal settlements. Experts have warned that if this trend continues unchecked and without clear policies, it could have serious consequences for the lives of Jalalabad residents.
Jalalabad, one of the key cities in eastern Afghanistan, has seen a significant influx of migrants from surrounding districts in recent years. This uncontrolled population growth has placed immense strain on the city’s already fragile infrastructure.
While international organizations like UN-Habitat stress the need for human-centered urban development, the Taliban administration has failed to present any clear or practical plans to manage urbanization and respond to citizens’ needs. This lack of governance threatens to further complicate the future of cities like Jalalabad.
