Formalization of Informal Settlements: A Study on Kabul Urban Areas

Abstract

Kabul Region with around 5 million population, which are 60% live in Kabul City 103,049 Ha (MUDH, 2016) , covers around 69% of Informal settlements, which suffer from lack of basic infrastructure, potable water, public spaces, and urban management system (Amiri & Lukumwena, 2018) . Urban Institutions and other related stakeholders try to cover the previous issues that happened due to mismanagement and rapid migration, after a long time public sectors supported preparing Master Plan in 2011 and other strategic plans to lead the city development toward a systematic manner (JICA, 2011 a ) . Previous master plans and the relevant detailed plans did not apply very well and couldn’t answer the Kabul Residents’ demand, in addition after the year 2001 and rapid migration there was not a pre-plan to control the marginal part of t he city. Then, the lack of acceptable method(s) among urban sectors and residents caused the issues to get hands together and change the City aspect. The purpose of this research is to find proper methods of intervention to formalize the informal settlements where the living standards get higher and the other side increasing the public services by tax collection. At the existing situation tax (Safaie) of 31% planned area is a budget of services provide by Kabul Municipality. This research will help Kabul Municipality and ot her stakeholder organizations to select the development tools for the betterment o f urban conditions based on the existing situation, environmental and applicable according to the socio-economic situation of Kabul City with the lowest budget and demolition. Meanwhile, this will draw a proper path for those organizations implementing the improvements project without future development outlook for the city.