Some residents of Ghazni province accuse the Taliban-led municipality in this province of negligence in essential development projects in the city. According to them, this institution is preoccupied with unnecessary and ostentatious activities, needing more focus on the construction of infrastructure projects. Based on the claims of Ghazni residents, the Taliban, in the past month alone, have spent approximately 18 million Afghanis from municipal revenues on constructing three intersections and painting six city entrance gates. This is happening while they pay little attention to building roads and urban infrastructure.
Some residents of Ghazni city-state that the Taliban’s municipal leadership in this city has used over 18 million Afghanis of municipal revenues in the past month to construct three intersections and paint six city entrance gates. According to them, two intersections were built in the late stages of the previous government, showing no signs of damage or deterioration in their construction. However, the Taliban demolished them and built new structures in their place.
Ghazni residents stress the importance of channeling funds into road and pedestrian pathway construction rather than demolishing and rebuilding decorative intersections and repainting gates. They assert that the populace is adversely affected by deteriorating road conditions and disrupted pathways, urging the group’s officials to prioritize city infrastructure development.
The citizens of Ghazni accuse the Taliban officials in the municipality of incompetence in planning and implementing urban development programs. They claim that this institution, funded by substantial amounts from Ghazni residents, misallocates resources into unnecessary projects. Furthermore, they assert that many of these activities were either reconstructed or newly built during the previous government and do not require further expenditures.
Nabiullah, a shopkeeper in the “Old Station of Qandahar” area, tells the Hasht-e Subh Daily, “The roundabout near us was built just a few years ago with a good design. There was no need for its destruction; the municipality was busy for a month. They demolished the roundabout and, instead, built a minaret. What was the necessity for this? They could have built the minaret in another part of the city, but they were forced to spend the fund, and no one is accountable.”
Another resident of Ghazni, who prefers to remain anonymous in the report, states, “I have a petrol pump station near the Namaz square. I swear to god that this square only needed a bucket of paint to repaint it. Its cement and concrete were excellent. Suddenly, the municipality came, demolished it, and built another structure. Instead, this money could have been used to address the issues people face in winter and summer due to dust and mud.”
Local Taliban officials in the municipality of Ghazni province have announced spending three million Afghanis on changing the facades of three intersections. According to this institution, the painting of six city entrance gates, along the Kabul-Kandahar highway, and the restoration of flower pots along this route will continue, incurring a cost of 15 million Afghanis.
Hussaindad, a carpenter in the city of Ghazni, located on the Shafakhana road, expresses that residents of this area have approached the Taliban several times regarding the deterioration of this road. However, no measures have been taken by the Taliban to address this fundamental issue affecting the local population.
This carpenter states, “There is no water drain for this road. In winter, this road becomes completely impassable. Rainwater enters people’s homes and shops. It freezes, and believe me, patients struggle to reach the hospital. No one pays attention. We approached both the previous government and the Taliban government several times; no one hears our voice.”
Ghazni residents express complaints about the municipality’s neglect of essential projects. Despite the considerable revenue generated by the municipality, it has failed to present a plan for the development of urban infrastructure. According to the residents of this province, the Taliban have only inaugurated two residential blocks, a market, and a sauna, whose construction was completed during the republic system.
Citizens’ primary concern is the mismanagement and misappropriation of municipal funds by the Taliban. They argue that the Taliban evade accountability to the public and legal institutions, making it impossible for anyone to question the group about public assets.
