Over the past three years, Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province, has witnessed a surge in the construction of residential properties and commercial high-rise buildings. This growth has primarily occurred across various parts of Taloqan, driven largely by wealthy individuals, local traders, and, in some cases, traders from Kabul, Balkh, and Badakhshan provinces.
Officials overseeing these residential and commercial high-rise projects in Takhar state that investments in construction have transformed the city’s landscape and significantly increased land and property prices. According to them, after the construction of residential properties and commercial high-rises gained momentum in Takhar, the Taliban halted these projects in Taloqan without providing any explanation.
Mohammad (pseudonym), an investor in commercial high-rise construction, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the Taliban’s decision was made without clear justification, causing confusion among investors, property owners, and the Taliban themselves.
He added, “Our projects, despite having legal documents and urban plans compliant with the [Taliban’s] Ministry of Urban Development’s master plan, have been halted. The Taliban stopped construction from April 2025 until now, and this has eroded public confidence in property transactions. We are unable to deliver the sold apartments to clients as per our work plan.”
Eid Mohammad (pseudonym), another investor in Taloqan, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that the Taliban’s interference in the construction of his high-rise project has caused him concern and diminished his motivation to continue construction activities in the city.
This local investor noted that his project’s documentation is fully legal, and the residential high-rise was built according to urban planning standards with official documents. However, the Taliban halted the work without providing any reason. He said, “We have approached them multiple times, but they still haven’t permitted us to resume work.”
Sayed (pseudonym), another investor in construction projects in Taloqan, stated that despite having legal documents and completing official procedures with government offices in Kabul and Takhar, the Taliban have stopped the construction of his residential high-rise. According to him, the Taliban-appointed mayor demanded three four-room apartments, each 180 square meters, and efforts to resolve the issue have so far been unsuccessful.
Sayed elaborated, “A group of us investors approached the Taliban’s urban development directorate and their Ministry of Urban Development in Kabul. They said there was no issue from their side, but the new Taliban mayor has blocked the continuation of our work. When we approached the municipality, the mayor himself refused to engage in discussions. His associates demanded three four-room apartments of 180 square meters or their monetary equivalent in exchange for allowing the work to proceed. Personally, to avoid issues with my clients and to deliver their units on time, I was forced to agree to the deal. However, our construction work remains halted.”
This investor emphasized that such actions by the Taliban are not only unlawful but also undermine the investment climate in Taloqan.
Meanwhile, a source within the Taliban’s municipality claimed that the institution has only stopped unauthorized high-rise constructions lacking legal documentation. Projects that comply with urban planning and the standards set by the Taliban leadership have not been halted.
The source stated, “Upon review, we found that these buildings were not constructed according to engineering standards. To prevent potential collapses in the future, we have temporarily stopped construction activities.”
Mohammad Hanif Mukhtar, the Taliban’s head of urban development and housing in Takhar Province, said that currently, more than 100 large and small residential and commercial projects, including the construction of the Espenghar commercial township in central Taloqan, are permitted to operate. According to him, most of these projects are funded by traders from various provinces.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
توقف ساختوساز در تالقان؛ مأیوسی سرمایهگذاران در سایه باجخواهی طالبان
