ABBOTTABAD, Nov 12: Over 150 million rupees will be spent on various public welfare and development projects in the district during the new financial year. Half of the development expenses will be spent through Citizen Community Boards (CCBs) of the union councils, for which the community will have to generate 20 per cent through their own resources.

This was stated by Mustafa Jadoon, Nazim of Abbottabad Zila Council, while presenting the annual budget of the council, here on Monday.

The District Nazim said that District Provincial Account (DPA) was estimated on the basis of funds provided by the provincial government and had already been approved. All other schemes had been also included in the budget and the Zila Council would soon decide their priorities for the next financial year. He drew the attention of all members to finalize their proposals at the earliest so that these could be included in the list of projects and funds allocated.

Giving details the District Nazim said the DPA had Rs 60,684,000 for the expenditure. An amount of Rs 16,706,000 received from the provincial government against the octroi charges would be set at the disposal of Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA), he said. In addition, Rs 6,304,000 would be received against the District Tax which would be distributed among the 46 union councils equally. He pointed out that the NWFP government had released Rs 3,000,000 for the renovation of district secretariat and funds had been increased to 10 million rupees.

About the development expenditure, the District Nazim said Rs 158,778,000 had been allocated, which would be spent on social action programme, Khushal Pakistan Programme and other development works.

Our Masehra correspondent adds: The district Nazim, Azam Khan Swati, has presented the zila council’s budget for the fiscal year 2001/2002 at the zila council session here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, he informed the council that Rs163.499 million had been allocated for developmental programmes, Rs69.56 million as non-salary expenditures and Rs16.33 million for zila council grant.

He said that expected income of the zila council was about Rs1.90 million, while the estimated expenditures were about Rs2.75 million and said that the deficit would be met from the provincial grants.

The budget session of the district council was presided over by its convener Shazada Gushtasif Khan.

Azam Khan said that Rs5.77 million had been allocated for development schemes which would be carried out under Khushal Pakistan Programme, while Rs3.47 million would be spent on the on-going schemes.

He said for Social Action Programme an amount of Rs15.62 million had been earmarked. Mr Khan said opening amount for the zila council was about Rs22.68 million.