Prime Minister Approves Plan to Regulate Urban Construction and Address Homelessness

Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund has approved a comprehensive policy framework aimed at addressing urban homelessness and standardizing construction regulations across major cities. The directive tasks municipal authorities and the Department of Land Affairs with identifying available government plots and establishing clear zoning guidelines.

Under the new measures, relevant agencies have been given one month to produce cadastral maps of state-owned land and designate restricted urban areas. Construction permits in designated zones may be issued based on verified sharia deeds, tax records, or customary documentation. These permits are strictly limited to residential use, capped at three floors, and explicitly do not serve as legal proof of land ownership. Permit holders will also be ineligible for compensation should future urban planning initiatives alter the status of their properties.

The Administrative Deputy Office has directed the Ministry of Interior to instruct provincial and district police forces to refrain from intervening in ongoing or planned construction projects unless a formal request is submitted by municipal authorities. The policy explicitly exempts the Kabul New City development from these new regulatory conditions.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, confirmed the prime minister’s endorsement of the proposals. He stated that the directives are intended to regulate urban development processes and address housing needs in major cities.