The Ministry of Information and Culture has announced the establishment of a committee dedicated to the preservation and restoration of historical sites in Kabul.

Khabib Ghufran, the ministry's spokesperson, mentioned that the committee was established by a decree from the leader of the Islamic Emirate. It is scheduled to commence restoration efforts shortly, focusing on the Shahr-e-Kohna and buildings along the Kabul River.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture added: “At the recent meeting held by the committee, the restoration of the Old City of Kabul was discussed. Those involved in the project include shopkeepers and others with businesses in the city, who have coordinated on this decision. It was also decided by the committee that some of the places that have been destroyed will be reconstructed in their former state.”

Many residents of the Shahr-e-Kohna of Kabul applaud the ministry’s efforts to restore the city.

Mohammad Rauf, who has been preparing Bolani for customers in his old shop for years, expressed his happiness about the restoration of his shop.

Mohammad Rauf told TOLOnews: “Our old area used to be very much a mud-brick home, the people were very historical, but now some of them have left and the poor among us remain.”

Najib, a resident of the Shahr-e-Kohna of Kabul, said: “They call it Shahr-e-Kohna because each street used to retain a name from the past. Each street had its own elder and leader, like the street of Sangkashan, Aashiqan O Arefan, and Wazir street and some more that people used to live in; we are now in Parancha street. All the mosques you see are historical.”

Many residents of Shahr-e-Kohna and other parts of Kabul are pleased with the restoration of this historical area, and call for serious attention to the protection and restoration of historical sites.

Weis, a resident of Shahr-e-Kohna, said: “We request that it be restored to its old condition. It is very good for the people, for us, and for the homeland.”

Abdul Hamid, another resident of Kabul, said: “If it is damaged, it should be restored, so we can see how we once had a culture, how we had historical places, and this should be restored for us.”

Previously, the Directorate for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the Ministry of Information and Culture had announced the commencement of restoration work on historical buildings in the Andarabi alley in Kabul.