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Afghanistan

"There is a revolution in this country, a revolution in development." - Jawad Jalali

Story by Asian Development Bank April 5th, 2015

A WITNESS TO DEVELOPMENT

“After three decades of war, people were very poor. The cities were all destroyed. There were no social facilities, no hospitals, no telecommunications, no power, no transport or agriculture. But now we have hospitals, even in very remote areas of the country. There are new roads, traffic lights, cars, buildings, new shopping malls, AND road lights POWERED BY solar panels. There has been a revolution of development in the country.” - Jawad jalali


Jawad, taking a photograph of Kabul from a distance.

A Steady Supply of Electricity is Changing Lives

After more than three decades of conflict, much of Afghanistan‘s power transmission and distribution infrastructure was destroyed. About 90% of the population had no access to electricity and the country had very little capacity to meet its own energy needs.

Transmission towers on the outskirts of Kabul.

Newly constructed transmission lines bringing power from Afghanistan’s northern neighbors are now transforming lives, creating jobs, and promoting stability and prosperity.

A waiter working in a hotel in Kabul. Reliable power brings jobs.
A garment factory in Kabul relies on a steady supply of electricity.
Workers perform quality checks at a printers in Kabul.
Many students in Mazar-i-Sharif now have computer access.
Bowling in Kabul.
A shop in Kabul selling electronics.
Kabul at night.

Improving Access

Much of Afghanistan’s road network was built during the 1960s but three decades of conflict destroyed much of it. Access to goods, trade, education, health, and other services was very difficult. Since 2002, more than 800 kilometers of new and rehabilitated roads have been built and work is under way to build more and eventually link the entire country.

The Mazar to Darisuf highway.

“For a while, I thought I was not in Afghanistan. The drive was smooth and comfortable. During the time of the Taliban, there were no paved roads… transport was difficult.”

A truck passing through the Mazar to Darisuf highway.
ADB supported the North South Corridor Road Project that connects the northern province of Balkh to Kabul.
Roads support tourism: the new Bamyan to Yakowlang road means there's good access to the Band Amir National Park.
A bridge being constructed along the 94-km Bamyan to Yakowlang road.
A car on the Bamyan to Yakowlang road.
A farm tractor on the Samangan to Mazar highway.
Passengers on a bus travelling on the new Bamyan to Yakowlang Road.

A Link to Progress

Afghanistan opened its first ever railway line in January 2012. The 75-kilometer rail link connects the city of Mazar-e-Sharif with the country‘s leading dry port at Hairatan on the border with Uzbekistan.

Exporting goods via the new railway to other parts of Central Asia is now easier, boosting trade and commerce. Vital supplies and other materials critical to Afghanistan’s development can now be transported much faster, cheaper, and in greater quantity.

New railway terminal in  Mazar-i-Sharif. The railway has transformed the economy of northern Afghanistan.

“The most amazing thing for me is the railway, for the first time I was experiencing a train in our own soil and country.”

An expanded railway system covering 4,425 kilometers is expected to be developed in the future and is expected to connect the majority of the country’s population centers.

An Uzbek driver at the controls of a locomotive on the new line from Mazar-i-Sharif to Hairatan.
An inspector marking containers in Mazar-i-Sharif.
The railway has provided easy transportation for Afghan merchants importing oil, wood, flour, wheat, asphalt and other important products.
Afghan workers unloading flour.
The railway has provided easy transportation for Afghan merchants importing oil, wood, flour, wheat, asphalt and other important products.

Food and Profit from Agriculture

Once famous for its produce, agriculture in Afghanistan was devastated. Irrigation channels were severely damaged and many farmlands were neglected after decades of conflict.

But, farmers are now making a comeback. Improved irrigation canals are now watering farms in the Balkh River basin and have boosted yields significantly.

Farmers harvesting vegetables in Surkhrod district, Nangarhar.

Cold storages facilities were also built to give opportunities for farmers to store potatoes – an essential staple, and increase profits. Grown only once during spring time, the potatoes are now available year round.

“Farmers are now saying that potato is the gold of Bamyan. One farmer showed me his new vehicle and he was very happy and thankful. Other farmers have satellite TVs, laptops, and solar panels to power their homes.”

Farmers growing potatoes in Bamyan.
Each cold storage room dug into the rocky earth with proper ventilation and insulation can preserve potatoes for up to six months.
Farmers put most of their produce in storage to sell during autumn and winter, effectively doubling their price.
Over a thousand cold storage rooms have reduced potato loss and farmers incomes have increased.
Afghan workers in a potato sorting plant in Bamyan.
An Afghan farmer sets up a satellite TV powered by solar panels on the roof of his home in Bamyan.
Watching TV thanks to solar power.

Communicating WITH the world

Cut off for decades, investment in reliable power and modern telecommunications means Afghans can now connect globally through cell phones and the internet.


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“I remember during the Taliban Regime there were no telecommunications in the country, even watching TV was a crime. my father HAD to TRAVEL TO Pakistan for 3 DAYS JUST to talk with my uncle in Europe. But now we have lots of facilities, we talk with family members abroad through skype or share our thoughts WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD through social media like facebook and twitter. We have more than 50 TV channels and hundreds of Radio channels in the country.”

Presenter and producer at a new talk radio station in Jalalabad.
There's now cellphone coverage in most Afghan cities.
The internet has transformed communications for Afghans.

Moving Forward

The country is now slowly emerging from its troubled past, but much work still needs to be done.

“As an Afghan I am very hopeful for a bright future. I am sure the next generation will experience A much better life than us.”

A young student reads from a blackboard  in Kabul.
Footnote: All photos taken by Jawad Jalali.
Afghanistan