The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan held its 20th cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, to address critical economic, social, and cultural issues, the Arg (Presidential Palace) announced via its official X account.

A key focus of the meeting was the long-overdue national population census, a critical step toward clarifying Afghanistan’s demographic data, which has remained uncertain due to the absence of a comprehensive survey. The cabinet tasked a delegation, led by Abdul Qahir, Head of the National Statistics and Information Office, with evaluating the current census proposal. The group is set to convene a meeting to assess its feasibility and deliver a final report at the next cabinet session.

The cabinet also instructed the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing to expedite national construction projects and streamline visa-related processes, signaling a push for infrastructure and administrative progress.

The Arg noted that the session concluded after in-depth discussions and decisions on a broad range of additional matters. The emphasis on a population census reflects the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to strengthen governance and address foundational challenges in Afghanistan’s development. (ILKHA)