Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul is still without a mayor – three years since President Ashraf Ghani made the commitment to elect a person to the post.
 
No action taken, a number of residents and critics said on Thursday. During his election campaign, Ghani pledged to take proper measures that all mayors in the country are selected through elections.
 
During his election campaign, the president, as part of his economic development policies, undertook to increase the authorities of Kabul mayor and all other mayors in the country within three months if he was to be elected president. No action has been taken to date.
 
He also pledged to act against mismanagement in the urban areas and bring an end to the water and electricity shortages.
 
“The municipalities have very limited authority. They have no control over electricity, water and police and canalization. We will increase the authorities of the municipalities in three months,” Ghani said during the election campaign.
 
“There are a lot of problems in Kabul city, there is no electricity, roads are cracked, but no one is focusing on it,” said Kabul resident Abdul Ghani.
 
Ghani also pledged to change the image of Kabul city by initiating major development works. But today there is no sign of those commitments as Kabul city faces huge problems in various sectors.
 
“A patient lost his life in my car, there is no-one to hold the government accountable,” said one driver in Kabul Mirwais.
 
“We travel a ten-minute distance in one hour, roads are in a really in bad condition,” said another driver Farhad.
 
The people in Kabul today face major problems in terms of access to electricity and water. The capital also faces canal problems.
 
Members of Kabul’s provincial council and the Nehad-e-Khidmat Guzaran Kabul foundation have accused the president of breaking his campaign promises and deceiving the people.
 
“The president failed to deliver on his promises and did not bring reforms to the municipalities. Currently, local authorities are facing with dozens of issues. The problems of the people in Kabul are there,” said Bashir Bezhan, member of Khedmat Guzaran-e-Kabul foundation.
 
Despite constant efforts, TOLOnews report did not manage to obtain comment from the presidential palace.
 
Estimates show that over six million people live in Kabul. Critics say that the National Unity Government (NUG) has failed to do improve the social and urban services in Kabul city.