Tehran- IRAF- UN-Habitat Afghanistan stated today (Thursday, January 29) that urban economies require a wide range of specialized skills in order to absorb the rapidly growing urban population. The agency stressed that the rising migration from rural areas to cities necessitates urgent investment in skills development.
Referring to the diverse skill needs of urban economies, the international organization added: “With the increasing movement of Afghans from rural areas to cities, investing in skills is critically important so that people can live and work with dignity.”
Emphasis on Creating Opportunity-Rich Cities and Forecasts of Urban Growth
UN-Habitat has emphasized the creation of cities full of economic and employment opportunities, warning that without skills development, urbanization could lead to higher unemployment and poverty.
The program also noted that urbanization in Afghanistan is rapidly accelerating and predicted that by 2026, one out of every two people will be living in cities, which further underscores the urgent need for urban planning and investment in skills.
Previously, UN-Habitat reported that based on available statistics, only five percent of Afghanistan’s population lived in urban areas in 1950. This figure rose to 25 percent by 2022 and is projected to reach 50 percent by 2060.
