Mohammad Sharbaty, the director of the Treasury of Tehran Municipality, provided details about the municipality's efforts towards economic independence and the implementation of the zero inflation plan at a meeting of managers from the municipalities of major cities in the country. He emphasized the importance of municipalities as small and influential governments, stating: "We must move towards production and distance ourselves from raw selling."
Effects of War on Tehran Municipality
Sharbaty continued by pointing out the damages caused by the war in Tehran, saying: "52,000 families and buildings were affected by the war, of which about 37,000 were minor damages that were resolved in a short period." He also referred to the problems of medium-damaged and destroyed units, adding: "We had 47 five-star hotels at Tehran Municipality and we have provided housing for residents of the destroyed units for up to two years. Meanwhile, none of these cases were included in the municipality's budgets."
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Financial Successes and the Zero Inflation Plan
The director of the Treasury of Tehran Municipality referred to the realization of 116% of the budget in the first six months of the year, stating: "We have various financing methods, one of which is the City Investment Company that had over 35 trillion tomans in direct purchases from the stock market last year." Sharbaty added: "The budget for 2026 for Tehran Municipality is projected to be 320 trillion tomans, and we are seeking a budget amendment."
He explained that the zero inflation plan includes the delivery of 12 to 17 essential goods to the people at the starting price of the plan for the next six months. Sharbaty stated: "We did not involve the municipality's resources in this matter, and this plan has curtailed the brokers' influence. The implementation of this plan is in the interest of all people, and its opponents cannot prevent its success."
Debt Status and Metro Projects
Sharbaty also referred to the municipality's debt situation, stating: "We have reduced the municipality's foreign debt to zero, and the rial debt is less than 50% compared to 2021." Regarding metro projects, he explained that lines 8 and 9 of the metro do not have national credit lines, and their funding is sourced from internal resources. He added: "Each of these two lines requires about 400 trillion tomans to be built over 5 years."
Islamic Perspective on Women and Family
Mariam Ardabili, the head of the Women and Family Center of Tehran Municipality, also addressed the Islamic perspective on women at this meeting, stating: "In the Islamic view, women and men are not contradictory or different at any point. The third model of women has been created for all women."
Ardabili emphasized the importance of women's activism and family-centeredness in urban management, adding: "In urban management, we can enhance the capabilities and strengths of families." She also announced the existence of 170 hectares of women-only spaces belonging to Tehran Municipality, stating: "In 2021, about 400,000 person-days were spent in the women-only spaces of the municipality, which this year has increased to 8.5 million person-days."
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