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KARACHI, June 19: The city district government has given final touches to its Rs27 billion development-oriented tax-free budget for the fiscal 2003-04, it is reliably learnt.
The amount includes Rs5 billion to be allocated to its Water and Sanitation Department.
The budget is likely to be presented before the City Council on June 25 for approval.
The city government budget shows an anticipated income of Rs11 billion as against its estimated expenditures which come to a little less than the amount, making it a surplus of Rs100 million.
Sources say that the budgetary proposals show Rs4.6 billion as its income from the main source — matching grant — which the federal government has been providing to local bodies since July 1, 1999 when octroi duty was abolished.
The other major sources of its income include Rs1.35 billion under the head of property tax; Rs1 billion through auction of advertisement sites; Rs1 billion through issuance of trade licence fee; and Rs11.2 million from charged-parking scheme of which the contract has already been awarded to a private party.
The size of the CDGK budget 2003-04 is bigger by about Rs1.5 billion than the previous fiscal’s Rs 20.54 billion.
It would be the second budget of the city government after it came into being on Aug 14, 2001. It had to adopt the defunct KMC’s budget 2001-2002 which amounted to Rs5,703.25 million with an estimated deficit of Rs50.26 million. The city government’s first budget was presented on June 25, 2002.
According to sources, around Rs7 billion have been earmarked for various development works as against Rs6,313.14 million allocated in the current fiscal year. Besides, Rs800 million have been kept under Khushal Pakistan Programme-III for different uplift plans in the city.
About the CDGK employees’ salary component, the sources say that over Rs2.5 billion have been allocated under this head for the year 2003-04 whereas education and health departments’ allocations have been increased by 15 and 10 per cent respectively.
RADIO & TV CHANNEL: The salient features of the CDGK’s next budget include setting up of a Radio and TV channel (Rs50 million), opening of a cardiac unit at Karachi Medical and Dental College (Rs50 million); new developmental schemes to be undertaken by citizens community boards (Rs200 million) and 150 new jumbo-size buses for the city.
Priorities for the development of beaches have been set and for this purpose all approach roads of Hawkesbay and Sandspit are to be constructed/carpeted and street-light arrangements would be ensured.
With a view to presenting daylight scene at Hill Park and Bagh-i-Quaid (formerly known as Polo Ground), flash lights, similar to those at Sea View, would be installed at the two sites.
The other proposed schemes include raising of two huge gates to be called ‘Babul Islam’ at Karachi Airport and at Super Highway and beautification of various roundabouts/traffic intersections and roads, including the I. I. Chundrigar Road.
Under a new tree-plantation scheme, titled Darakht Lagao, Sawab Kamao, the CDGK would offer five million trees, costing Rs3,000 each, to the citizens. To appreciate the gestures of the citizens who came forward in obtaining and nurturing the trees, the CDGK would get their name plates fixed on these trees. The city government’s Parks department staff would be handling the affair.
TMA’S SHARE: About the share of town municipal administrations in the anticipated revenues under the head of trade licence fee, the sources said, the CDGK would retain 20 per cent of the total amount and the rest would be divided among the 18 TMAs.
However, with regard to the revenues under the head of advertisements, 80 per cent would be retained by the CDGK and the remaining would be distributed among the TMAs.
