Herat municipality’s revenue rises

HERAT CITY (PAN): The municipality department of western Herat province has collected more than one billion afghanis in revenue over the past seven months, showing a several-fold increase, compared to the previous two years, the mayor said on Sunday.

Mohammad Salim Tarakai told Pajhwok Afghan News the municipality’s income was 60 million afghanis two years back, but reached one billion and 200 million afghanis over the past seven months.

He linked the several-fold increase in revenue to the appointment of professional staff and effective counter corruption efforts.

The mayor said they would continue their efforts at further increasing the municipality’s income as planned in order to make the department self-sufficient in providing residents with civic services.

Tarakai said the municipality had currently launched work on a canalization project and a 52-kilometre road in Herat City, the provincial capital.

Last year, the governor’s house accused the municipality of corruption, a charge that sparked protests against the department.

Tarakai said the allegations had no basis as proved in an investigation by the attorney office, saying citizens had not been delivered satisfactory services that year.

The mayor said his department alone could not claim credit for the increase in its revenue, saying other departments who cooperated well had a role in this regard.

A ninth police district resident, Sharif Khan, acknowledged the municipality had carried out many development projects this year.

He thanked the department for paving streets, constructing new roads and keeping in the city clean, compared to the past.

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