SAHIWAL, Nov 18: The local district council has approved its annual budget for 2001-03 at a meeting held under the chairmanship of convener and Naib Nazim Malik Muhammad Yar.

The tax-free and surplus budget estimated the annual income of Rs585.036 million with the development allocation of Rs290.4 million.

The break-up of the development allocation included the Khushal Pakistan Programme, Social Action Programme and ongoing development schemes.

The meeting was told that the district government had a reserve fund of Rs6 million from the ex-MNA/MPA grant which could be utilized with the permission of the government.

Addressing the session, the Nazim said the budget included upgradation of Zafar Ali Stadium, construction of a shopping arcade and a mini hospital in Grain Market, provision of a welfare centre at the DHQ Hospital and renovation of the existing Kin’aan and Faridia parks.

In Chichawatni sub-division, a stadium would be constructed and a park at the THQ Hospital would be improved, he said.

The Nazim said he had a plan to establish an agriculture college in Sahiwal the part provision for which had been made in the budget.