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KABUL (SW) – The general theme for World Cities Day this year is Better City, Better Life.
The United Nations General Assembly has designated the 31st of October as World Cities Day, by its resolution 68/239. The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.
The Afghan capital, Kabul, might look beautiful from the air, but once one steps on the streets in the city, there is plenty of visual pollution. The capital city of some five million inhabitants has been marred by traffic irregularities, roadside sellers of goods and rampant display of all sorts of commercial hoardings and billboards.
Shopkeepers have encroached upon the footpaths, and the road-side sellers of goods have captured half of the main roads while commuters in all sorts of vehicles can be seen heading in every directions in clear violation of the traffic rules.
On top of all this, candidates for the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) elections have further stained the city’s landscape with the excessive display of their electoral posters all over the city. The visual pollution has left negative effects of distraction, eye fatigue, decreases in opinion diversity and frustration on the citizens.
Many the Kabul residents might not be aware about the phenomenon of visual pollution, but they are certainly fed-up with it. In conversation with Salam Watandar, they said the people and government should join hands to get rid of the visual pollution in the city.
Raheem, one such resident, said the government should provide alternate place for advertisement and trade. Faheem, a road-side trader in Deh Afghanan area, said the government seems to have no plan to overcome this issue. He expressed displeasure over selling his goods on the road, but stressed he has no other alternative due to poverty.
Not far away, the Kabul Municipality workers were busy cleaning a drainage amid stinky smell of the filth all over the place. Passing by, Faisal, another Kabul resident, was hiding his nose with a mask. He said the streets are not cleaned regularly, the roadside trees are not given water, and above all irregular spread of unregulated homes have marred the image of the capital city.
We wished to have the views of the KM, but to no avail despite repeated attempts.
ENDS
