KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has raised concern over the rapid and unregulated urban expansion in Firozkoh, the capital of central Ghor province in Afghanistan, warning that the city’s unplanned growth could have serious social and environmental consequences.
In a post on X on Wednesday, UN-Habitat said Firozkoh had expanded significantly between 1985 and 2025, stressing that unplanned urban growth can lead to informal settlements, pressure on infrastructure, and rising inequality.
“Expansion without urban planning can lead to informal settlements, strained infrastructure, and rising inequality,” the agency said. “It’s time to guide Firozkoh’s transformation into an inclusive, resilient city for all.”
The UN agency voiced similar concerns in a recent report highlighting the unregulated expansion of other major cities, including Kabul and Herat. It said rapid urbanization has become one of the country’s key challenges amid economic hardship and population growth.
Decades of conflict, poverty, and slow development have driven many rural families to move to cities in search of better living conditions. Many of them now live in informal settlements on the outskirts of urban areas, where infrastructure and basic services are scarce.
According to UN-Habitat, about 25% of Afghanistan’s population currently lives in urban areas, but that number is projected to rise to 50% by 2060 as migration and population growth continue.
The agency has also warned of worsening conditions in Kabul, which hosts more than 40% of the country’s urban population. In July, UN-Habitat said groundwater levels in the capital had dropped sharply, threatening about six million residents. Experts warn Kabul could face severe water shortages within five years if no action is taken.
