Why did rapid construction in Kabul create environmental problems in its suburbs?

The rapid construction in the suburbs of Kabul has created poor environmental conditions primarily because massive investments in speculative commercial and residential development have not been matched by corresponding public spending on urban infrastructure.1

While the city has experienced one of the fastest rates of urban growth in Asia since 2001, this expansion has largely occurred in an informal and unplanned manner. The lack of adequate public investment means that essential services and infrastructure have failed to keep pace with the surging population. Consequently, many residents in these fast-growing areas lack access to basic services, leading to significant environmental challenges in the city's outskirts.12