History of Herat Municipality
Although the history of urban life and city administration in Herat dates back many centuries, various institutions responsible for municipal affairs have operated under different names, including Kalantari (District Administration), Nazmiya (Police Administration), and Baladiya (Municipality). The Municipality of Herat, as a formal institution with clearly defined responsibilities for urban administration, officially commenced its activities in 1308 (1929 CE) in the Chahar Bagh area under the supervision of Abdul Ghafour Khan Golmiri.
At that time, the Municipality's principal responsibilities included the collection of taxes, recruitment of military personnel, registration of the urban population, and regulation and control of city traffic.
During that period, the population of Herat was fewer than one hundred thousand inhabitants, and municipal services were provided on a relatively limited scale. With the establishment of the New City of Herat and the expansion of the municipality into fifteen municipal districts, the responsibilities and scope of municipal services gradually increased.
Since its establishment, Herat Municipality has been led by 40 mayors and acting mayors, who have served through both appointment and selection. The citizens of Herat hold different opinions regarding their performance; however, Ghulam Yahya Khan Taimuri, Mostofi Abdul Latif Khan Taimuri, Ahmad Ali Khan Jamshidi, Abdul Rahim Khan Barakzai, Haji Abdul Rahim Khan Ghoriyani, Ata Mohammad Khan Naqshbandi, Ustad Mohammad Khan Naqshbandi, Ustad Mohammad Saeed Mashal, Rahmatullah Haqdoust, Engineer Farhad Nayesh, Mullah Sharafuddin Mokhlis, Mawlawi Hayatullah Mohajir Farahi, Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Razzaq Rashid, and Al-Haj Mullah Nematullah Hassan are widely recognized among the most successful mayors in the history of Herat Municipality.
The current Herat Municipality is located on Pul-e Rangina Road in the Sixth Municipal District and administers 15 municipal districts across the city. At present, Mawlawi Hamdullah Nomani serves as the Mayor of Herat.
Over the past years, Herat Municipality has consistently been recognized as one of Afghanistan's leading municipal institutions. Its achievements and performance have been widely appreciated by various governmental organizations, institutions, and, most importantly, the citizens of Herat.
During the past two years, through effective management and sound planning, Herat Municipality has successfully created opportunities to promote cultural initiatives aimed at increasing public participation and strengthening civic engagement. Furthermore, during the 1404 Fiscal Year (2025–2026), the Municipality successfully collected and realized more than AFN 1.08 billion in revenue from various municipal revenue sources.
Herat Municipality has continuously sought to strengthen its position among the leading cities of Asia by implementing innovative and sustainable urban development initiatives. Among its notable achievements are the implementation of the "Municipality in Schools" program, designed to enhance civic culture and provide students with essential municipal awareness and education, as well as the construction of Afghanistan's first standard underpass for motor vehicles, a landmark infrastructure project widely regarded as unique in the country.
Today, Herat Municipality remains committed to delivering quality municipal services, promoting sustainable urban development, improving public welfare, enhancing transparency and accountability, and providing a cleaner, greener, and more livable city for all residents.
