Editing Kabul (section)

==Economy and infrastructure==
{{Further|Economy of Afghanistan}}
Kabul's main products included [[fruit|fresh]] and [[dried fruit]], [[nut (fruit)|nuts]], beverages, [[Afghan rug]]s, [[leather]] and sheep skin products, furniture, [[antique]] [[replica]]s, and domestic clothes. The [[World Bank]] authorised [[United States dollar|US$]]25&nbsp;million for the Kabul Urban Reconstruction Project which closed in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P083919/kabul-urban-reconstruction-project?lang=en&tab=overview|title=Kabul Urban Reconstruction Project|publisher=Worldbank.org|access-date=18 May 2014|archive-date=18 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818022540/http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P083919/kabul-urban-reconstruction-project?lang=en&tab=overview|url-status=live}}</ref> Over the last decade, the United States has invested approximately $9.1&nbsp;billion into urban infrastructure in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/113405/us-forces-afghanistan-adjusts-its-91-billion-infrastructure-program-meet-afghans-near-term-needs#.UjFOTX-SGUk|title=DVIDS – News – US Forces – Afghanistan adjusts its $9.1&nbsp;billion infrastructure program to meet Afghans' near-term needs|publisher=Dvidshub.net|access-date=18 May 2014|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224190108/https://www.dvidshub.net/news/113405/us-forces-afghanistan-adjusts-its-91-billion-infrastructure-program-meet-afghans-near-term-needs#.UjFOTX-SGUk|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wsj">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323716304578481072267924656|title=Kabul's Tax Levies Raise Flags From U.S. Watchdog – WSJ|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=13 May 2013|publisher=online.wsj.com|access-date=25 October 2014|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224190813/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323716304578481072267924656|url-status=live|last1=Hodge|first1=Nathan}}</ref> [[War in Afghanistan (1978–present)|The wars since 1978]] have limited the city's economic productivity but after the establishment of the Karzai administration since late 2001, local economic developments have included a number of [[indoor shopping mall]]s. The first of these was the [[Kabul City Center]], opened 2005. Others have also opened in recent years including [[Gulbahar Center]], [[City Walk Mall]] and [[Majid Mall]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Alan|title=The Modern Face of Kabul – The Atlantic|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/03/the-modern-face-of-kabul/100707/|website=www.theatlantic.com|language=en|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126125535/https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/03/the-modern-face-of-kabul/100707/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mandawi Road on the south side of the river, located between Murad Khani and Shur Bazaar neighbourhoods, is one of the main bazaars of Kabul. This wholesale market is very popular amongst locals. Nearby is the Sarai Shahzada money exchange market.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EPw7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA192|title=Beyond the Silk Roads|isbn=978-1-108-83831-3|last1=Marsden|first1=Magnus|date=9 September 2021|publisher=Cambridge University Press|access-date=2 September 2021|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902004431/https://books.google.com/books?id=EPw7EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA192|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chicken Street]] is perhaps best known to foreigners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/only-the-brave-survive-on-chicken-street-in-kabul-9tx5fvr5h2f|title=Only the brave survive on Chicken Street in Kabul: Two market traders encapsulate the sorry history of Afghanistan|first=Martin|last=Fletcher|author-link=Martin Fletcher|date=6 October 2009|newspaper=[[The Times]]|access-date=2 September 2021|archive-date=1 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901190509/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/only-the-brave-survive-on-chicken-street-in-kabul-9tx5fvr5h2f|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kabul's largest industrial hub was located in District 9, on the north banks of the River Kabul and near the airport.<ref name="iwaweb.org" /> About {{convert|4|mi|km|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} from downtown Kabul, in [[Bagrami District|Bagrami]], a {{convert|22|acre|ha|0|adj=on|order=flip}} industrial complex had been completed with modern facilities, which allowed companies to operate businesses there. The park had professional management for the daily maintenance of public roads, internal streets, common areas, parking areas, 24 hours perimeter security, access control for vehicles and people.<ref>Afghanistan Industrial Parks Development Authority...[http://www.aisa.org.af/IPD/Bagrami.htm Kabul (Bagrami)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605111223/http://www.aisa.org.af/IPD/Bagrami.htm |date=5 June 2007 }}</ref> A number of factories operated there, including the $25&nbsp;million Coca-Cola bottling plant and the Omaid Bahar juice factory.

[[File:Kabul Antiquity Shop2.jpg|thumb|200px|Inside an antiquity shop in Kabul's famous [[Chicken Street]] (''Kochi Murgha'')]]
According to [[Transparency International]], the government of Afghanistan was the third most-[[Corruption|corrupt]] in the world, as of 2010.<ref name="TI">{{cite web|url=http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results|title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2010 Results|publisher=[[Transparency International]]|year=2010|access-date=27 February 2011|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226144223/https://www.transparency.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> Experts believe that the poor decisions of Afghan politicians contributed to the unrest in the region. This also prevented foreign investment in Afghanistan, especially by Western countries. In 2012, there were reportedly $3.9&nbsp;billion paid to public officials in [[Bribery|bribes]] which contributed to these issues.<ref>{{cite web|date=9 August 2013|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/08/afghanistan-s-million-dollar-minister.html|title=Afghanistan's Million Dollar Minister|website=The Daily Beast|access-date=18 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424060524/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/08/afghanistan-s-million-dollar-minister.html|archive-date=24 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Da Afghanistan Bank]], the nation's [[central bank]], was headquartered in Kabul. In addition, there are several commercial banks in the city.<ref>Licensed banks in Kabul include: [[Afghanistan International Bank]], [[Kabul Bank]], [[Azizi Bank]], [[Pashtany Bank]], [http://www.afghanunitedbank.com/ Afghan United Bank] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731022438/http://www.afghanunitedbank.com/ |date=31 July 2013 }}, [[Standard Chartered Bank]], [[Punjab National Bank]], [[HBL Pakistan|Habib Bank]] and [[Western Union]]</ref>

<!--Tourism-->
As of 2016 there were{{Update inline|date=August 2024|?=yes|reason=What are the latest figures for Kabul specific tourism?}} about 20,000 foreign tourists visiting Afghanistan per year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2016/09/27/20000-foreign-tourists-visit-afghanistan-annually|title=20,000 foreign tourists visit Afghanistan annually|publisher=Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN)|editor=Navid Ahmad Barakzai|date=27 September 2016|access-date=15 May 2017|archive-date=23 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123022923/http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2016/09/27/20000-foreign-tourists-visit-afghanistan-annually|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Development planning===
A US$1&nbsp;billion contract was signed in 2013 to commence work on the "Kabul New City" (sometimes reported as "New Kabul City"), which is a major residential scheme that would accommodate 1.5&nbsp;million people.<ref>{{cite news|title=$1b contract signed to begin work on New Kabul City plan|url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/09/04/1b-contract-signed-begin-work-new-kabul-city-plan|publisher=Pajhwok Afghan News –|editor=Muhammad Hassan Khetab|date=4 September 2013|access-date=30 September 2013|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924085013/http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/09/04/1b-contract-signed-begin-work-new-kabul-city-plan|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcda.gov.af/|title=Welcome to our Official Website|publisher=DCDA|access-date=17 August 2012|archive-date=30 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233634/http://www.dcda.gov.af/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/08/18/iea-officials-inaugurate-construction-of-new-kabul-city/|title=IEA officials inaugurate construction of New Kabul City|work=Pajhwok Afghan News|date=August 18, 2023|access-date=2023-09-25|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920234133/https://pajhwok.com/2023/08/18/iea-officials-inaugurate-construction-of-new-kabul-city/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ariananews.af/construction-gets-underway-on-new-kabul-housing-project/|title=Construction gets underway on New Kabul housing project|work=Arian News|date=August 17, 2023|access-date=2023-09-25|archive-date=16 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230916040922/https://www.ariananews.af/construction-gets-underway-on-new-kabul-housing-project/|url-status=live}}</ref> Construction was delayed due to instability in the region, but construction broke ground in August 2023 after a new contract was signed between the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and Khawar Company. The new agreement is expected to modernize the city, address overpopulation, and incentivize the return of [[expatriate]]s by adding housing to accommodate 3 million people and modern amenities.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kakar|first=Hijratullah|date=2023-08-18|title=IEA officials inaugurate construction of New Kabul City|url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/08/18/iea-officials-inaugurate-construction-of-new-kabul-city/|access-date=2024-07-12|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Parcel B First Phase – Kabul New City|url=https://kabulnewcity.com/parcel-b-first-phase/|access-date=2024-07-12|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Designing Kabul New City|url=https://architecturestudio.fr/en/projets/brouillon-auto-18/|access-date=2024-07-12|website=Architecturestudio|language=en-US}}</ref> The construction is planned to occur in two phases over the span of about 30 years.

Another development is the Qatar Township in Kabul.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/05/30/qatar-townships-construction-works-resume-in-kabul/|title=Qatar Township's construction works resume in Kabul|work=Pajhwok Afghan News|date=30 May 2023|access-date=2023-09-25|archive-date=7 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807211514/https://pajhwok.com/2023/05/30/qatar-townships-construction-works-resume-in-kabul/|url-status=live}}</ref> Construction was halted for the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed in May 2023. The township—which is planned to include 12 blocks with 768 flats, three business blocks, one mosque, two schools, and an orphanage—could become operational in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Haidari|first=Afsana|date=2023-05-30|title=Qatar Township's construction works resume in Kabul|url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/05/30/qatar-townships-construction-works-resume-in-kabul/|access-date=2024-07-12|language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Communications===
{{Further|Communications in Afghanistan}}
[[File:1950s Afghanistan - Afghan radio station.jpg|thumb|200px|Studio of [[Radio Kabul]] in the 1950s]]
As of November 2015, there were more than 24 television stations based out of Kabul.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-v-micallef/afghanistan-2015-the-view_b_8476964.html|title=Afghanistan 2015: The View From Kabul|first=Joseph V.|last=Micallef|website=HuffPost|date=8 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015|archive-date=12 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112045503/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-v-micallef/afghanistan-2015-the-view_b_8476964.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Terrestrial TV transmitters were located at the summit of the [[Koh-e Asamai]].

[[GSM]]/[[GPRS]] mobile phone services are provided by [[Afghan Wireless]], [[Etisalat]], [[Roshan (Telecom)|Roshan]], [[MTN Group|MTN]] and [[Salaam (mobile carrier)|Salaam]]. They provide [[4G]] and [[3G]] services. In November 2006, the [[Afghan Ministry of Communications]] signed a US$64.5&nbsp;million deal with [[ZTE]] on the establishment of a countrywide fibre optical cable network to help improve telephone, internet, television and radio broadcast services not just in Kabul but throughout the country.

Mail and delivery services are provided by [[Afghan Post]], [[FedEx]], [[TNT N.V.]], and [[DHL Express|DHL]].

===Hotels and other lodging===
{{Further|Tourism in Afghanistan}}
Kabul has many hotels for domestic and foreign travelers. [[Guest house]]s are also found in the city. The better and safer ones are located in the [[Shahr-e Naw]] and [[Wazir Akbar Khan, Kabul|Wazir Akbar Khan]] neighbourhoods (the Green Zone). The following are some of the hotels in Kabul (in alphabetical order).
* Baron Hotel
* Central Hotel
* Darya Village Hotel
* Golden Star Hotel
* [[Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul|Kabul Inter-Continental]]
* [[Kabul Serena Hotel]]
* Kabul Star Hotel
* Khyber Hotel
* Park Star Hotel
* [[Safi Landmark Hotel]]
* Spinzar Hotel
* Zohak Village