Herat Municipality Holds Accountability Session for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 1405 An accountability session on the performance, activities, and achievements of Herat Municipality during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 1405 (Solar Hijri).e
was held to promote transparency and accountability to citizens.
The session was attended by Mufti Nooruddin Ahmad Islam Jar, Governor of Herat; Haji Mawlawi Hamdullah Nomani, Mayor of Herat; heads of the three major departments of the municipality, including Urban Governance, Technical and Professional Affairs, and Revenue and Accounting; a number of internal managers; neighborhood representatives; and heads of neighborhood development councils.
The program began with the recitation of several verses from the Holy Quran. Addressing the session, the Governor of Herat emphasized the importance of promoting urban culture and civic responsibility.
Sheikh Islam Jar stated that the city's Master Plan would be implemented in cooperation with citizens and neighborhood representatives, emphasizing the need for comprehensive public cooperation.
Haji Mawlawi Hamdullah Nomani, Mayor of Herat, said that the purpose of the session was to provide citizens with a transparent report on the performance and achievements of Herat Municipality.
The Mayor said, “Accountability to the people is one of the principles of the Islamic system, and municipal officials must be accountable to the public.”
He added that all revenues collected by the municipality from citizens would be spent transparently and fairly on the development and expansion of Herat city.
The Mayor further stated that the municipality is the common home of all citizens and that residents can share their views, suggestions, and petitions with the leadership of Herat Municipality.
He noted that Herat Municipality has included 80 major development projects worth more than one billion Afghanis in its Fiscal Year 1405 plan, of which work has commenced on 42 projects.
Mawlawi Abdul Ahad Khairkhwah, Head of Urban Governance at Herat Municipality, stated that the dissemination of messages from the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate, the holding of Urban Order and Development Commission meetings, educational seminars for neighborhood representatives, municipal administrative meetings, the appointment of 50 neighborhood representatives and 50 heads of development councils, the establishment of three “Municipality–School” committees, supervision of the addressing and street-naming project, and several other major initiatives were among the key achievements of his department during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 1405.
Meanwhile, Engineer Sabawoon Kakar, Head of the Urban Planning and Development Department, representing the Technical and Professional Affairs Department of Herat Municipality, stated that 80 major development projects worth more than one billion Afghanis had been included in the municipality's Fiscal Year 1405 plan. He said that work on 38 projects commenced during the second quarter, 14 major projects were completed and put into operation, while 28 other projects were at the survey and technical documentation stage.
The Head of Urban Planning stated that the construction of traffic and commercial underpasses, commercial and administrative buildings, retaining walls, street and road lighting, road asphalt paving and concrete works, construction of canals, preparation of detailed development plans, city cleaning, expansion of green spaces, road marking, painting of medians, beautification and improvement of the city's appearance, maintaining urban order, and monitoring and controlling prices were among the major programs of the department for the current fiscal year.
In continuation of the session, Amanullah Azimi, representing the Revenue and Accounting Department of Herat Municipality, presented a report on revenues and expenditures during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 1405. He stated that total revenue collected during the quarter amounted to approximately AFN 337 million.
He added that the revenues were collected from municipal service fees on government, residential, and commercial properties; fees for the approval of building plans; taxes on signs and advertisements; municipal service fees for commercial licenses; municipal service fees collected at customs entry points; municipal service fees related to traffic charges; rent from Herat Municipality properties; and other sources of municipal revenue.
Mr. Azimi further stated that total recurrent and development expenditures during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 1405 amounted to AFN 221 million.
At the same time, a number of neighborhood representatives and heads of development councils welcomed the holding of the accountability session and presented their views and suggestions to municipal officials for improving the performance of the administration. They also reaffirmed their full support for the programs of Herat Municipality.
The program concluded with a closing prayer led by Mawlawi Mohammad Ismail Ayoub, Head of the Department of Guidance and Outreach at Herat Municipality.
