Afghan rebuilding, S'pore-style


Fri, Jul 31, 2009
my paper



by Koh Hui Theng

ORCHARD Road - or a version of that famous shopping thoroughfare - could arise in battered Kabul, capital of Afghanistan.

That's the dream that drives World Bank consultant Najla Sabri, and she hopes Singapore know-how can make it real.


She and 33 other Afghans were in Singapore for a weeklong United Nations-organised study trip hosted by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF).

It was an emotional and inspiring outing for the Kabul resident, who is in her early 30s. She looks forward to the day her war-ravaged nation can rebuild itself to world-class standards, 'like Singapore has done'.

As part of the Hiroshima Fellowship for Afghanistan 2009 - a UN Institute for Training and Research programme - the group visited places like the Singapore General Hospital and the Urban Redevelopment Authority to learn about infrastructure and capacity development.

One key moment came when Ms Sabri saw URA's masterplan for Singapore's downtown area.

She told my paper: 'You're very clear about what your building needs are and what the people want. In Kabul, we can't even agree on where a building should be placed.'

Where might a 'Kabul Orchard Road' emerge? Perhaps in Froshga, Kabul's main bazaar.

'Afghan citizens go there (Froshga) to shop and get daily necessities, but we always rush back after running our errands because security is an issue,' said Ms Sabri.

'With (August) presidential elections drawing near, we try to avoid walking or driving near United States convoys too, as they are usually targeted by terrorists.'

She added: 'Singapore is a thousand times smaller than Afghanistan, but you're able to live in harmony and use limited resources to develop (your) infrastructure. We are starting from zero, so we have much to learn from you.'

The Afghans have attended workshops on management and leadership skills. They are leaving tomorrow. SIF has been aiding Afghanistan's reconstruction efforts since 2004.

Said Ms Margaret Thevarakom, deputy director of international volunteerism, 39: 'Giving the Afghans a first-hand understanding of what we do in Singapore means they can apply what they have learnt when they get back home. Where Afghanistan is at now is where we were 44 years ago. In addition, they have suffered a war.'

kohht@sph.com.sg