Local Government, Elections & Rural Development Department
District Mardan · Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
TMA Takht Bhai · Public Information
Civic education, volunteerism, community participation and citizen–local government engagement through Municipal Citizens Academy, TMA Takht Bhai.
Municipal Citizens Academy (MCA), TMA Takht Bhai is an innovative public-sector civic engagement initiative established to build a meaningful partnership between citizens and local government. MCA is envisioned as a dedicated civic engagement academy within the public-sector local-government framework, providing a structured platform for civic education, volunteerism, community participation and responsible citizenship.
Pioneer & Chief Coordinator
Mr. Usman Ali Nashad is the Pioneer and Chief Coordinator of Municipal Citizens Academy, TMA Takht Bhai. He developed and led the concept with the objective of bringing civic education and citizen participation into the practical working of local government.
MCA introduced the Model Village module in Takkar as a practical demonstration of community-led development. The initiative focuses on cleanliness, waste management, civic responsibility, community participation and improved environmental conditions. A defining feature is its Zero Cost to Government approach, mobilizing existing municipal resources, community participation, volunteers and local ownership rather than relying on a separate government development budget.
The Model Bazar module applies the same civic-engagement philosophy to commercial areas, encouraging shopkeepers, traders, workers and citizens to collectively improve cleanliness, waste management, civic discipline and the overall environment of the marketplace. The approach emphasizes community ownership and cooperation with TMA, with the objective of achieving visible improvement without additional financial burden on government.
MCA has engaged hundreds of citizens and community members through awareness activities and practical initiatives. Its work has included WASH awareness, approximately 500 water tests, cleanliness campaigns, volunteer engagement, awareness sessions for handcart and rickshaw/Raksha drivers, community and WASH committees, environmental initiatives, anti-encroachment awareness and digital citizen engagement.
Local government cannot achieve sustainable municipal development through government resources alone. Citizens must become partners in governance. Through initiatives such as Model Village Takkar and Model Bazar, MCA demonstrates how organized citizen participation, volunteerism and existing institutional resources can generate practical improvements with zero or minimal additional cost to government.