Sources in Kandahar say the Taliban-run municipality is planning to demolish two major commercial centers, Mandawi and Kabari, in the city’s fourth district.
Sources told the Hasht-e Subh Daily on Monday, October 26, that the Taliban municipality had informed shopkeepers several days earlier that they must vacate their shops near the municipality and provincial governor’s office buildings.
According to the sources, the two commercial centers were built on land owned by the municipality and house around 2,000 shops.
The centers include shops selling fabric, curtains, vegetables, fruit, food products, herbal medicines, spare parts and other goods.
Sources estimate that around 400 million Afghanis have been invested in these commercial centers.
Meanwhile, the Taliban-run municipality in Kandahar has also confirmed plans to demolish the centers.
Officials from the municipality say two large, modern commercial complexes are planned for the site.
However, municipal officials have not yet announced whether alternative locations will be provided for shop owners or whether they will receive compensation for potential losses resulting from the demolitions.
