KARACHI, June 25: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Wednesday presented Rs27,704.13 million budget of the city government, incorporating a development outlay of Rs10.136 million, in the City Council on Wednesday.
The budget amount includes Rs5,016.80 million for the Water and Sanitation Department for the next fiscal.
The outlay of CDGK budget includes Rs7,985.20 million to be generated from its own resources, Rs930 million from its share from the provincial ADP and the remaining amount from the W&S Department.
The budget shows an anticipated income of Rs27,704.13 million as against its total expenditure of Rs27,582.38 million, indicating a surplus of Rs121.75 million. The expenditure reflects an increase of Rs5,571.83 million over the revised estimates for the year 2002-2003 of Rs22,110.55 million, that comes to 25 per cent.
The allocation of Rs10.136 million (48 per cent) for development works/projects and ADP has been made against the total receipts of Rs16,653.51 million on account of current, capital and ADP receipts.
The total expenditure has been shown at Rs 27,582.38 million
A major chunk, Rs5,170.62 million, of the total expenditure is to be spent on education followed by Rs4,647.05 million allocated as share of towns and UCs and Rs4,424.57 million for Works and Services Department.
Health department has been allocated Rs1,792.52 million whereas the development authorities of Malir and Lyari have been allocated Rs1,305.58 and Rs1,156.17 million respectively.
EDUCATION: The allocation for top priority sector, education, indicates an increase of Rs279.81 million as against that of previous budget.
RADIO/TV CHANNEL: The CDGK plans establishment of its own Radio and TV channels meant for imparting education and knowledge.
HEALTH: The health sector has received an allocation of Rs1,792.52 million to ensure better medical facilities to the citizens. The projects include a cardiac institute to be set up at the old campus of Karachi Medical and Dental College for which initially Rs30 million have been earmarked.
The city Nazim announced that no OPD charges would now be recovered from the patients at CDGK’s hospitals.
IT: For the promotion of Information Technology, laboratories are to be established in all schools and measures are being taken to set up an IT University and IT Park in the city.
The total outlay comprises current and capital receipts of Rs15,723.51 million (Rs12,232.99 and Rs3,490.52 million respectively) ADP of Rs930 million and inclusive of receipts of Rs6,033.82 million from Sindh government on account of salary and other heads pertaining to the personnel of the devolved departments of provincial government and Rs5,016.80 million of Water and Sanitation Department (formerly KWSB), showing an increase of Rs5,423.89 million, i.e. 24 per cent over the revised budget estimates of Rs22,280.24 million of 2002-2003.
The total expenditure of Rs27,582.38 million in the new budget estimates comprises of an allocation of Rs3,869.51 million for establishment, contingencies and repairs/maintenance and Rs10,136.60 million for development works/projects, inclusive of ADP and W&S Department.
An amount of Rs4,647.05 million has been allocated for the city’s 18 Town Municipal Administrations and 178 Union Councils; Rs6,033.82 million for meet the salary and non-salary expenditure of the devolved departments of provincial government.
Unlike federal and provincial budgets, the CDGK budget was heard in a pin drop silence in the 255-member City Council. The budget session was presided over by senior presiding officer Muslim Pervaiz as the convener of the House, Tariq Hasan, was away, attending a course at National Defence College. The DCO, Mir Hussain Ali, and EDO Finance, Iqbal Ahsan Zaidi, were present in the House.
POLLUTION: Referring to pollution in the city, Naimatullah Khan said that a number of parks and playgrounds were being improved whereas plantation of 500,000 saplings had been planned with the help of NGOs and philanthropists.
RECREATION: Roads leading to Hawkesbay and Sandspit are to be constructed with proper lighting arrangements to improve recreation facilities. In addition, flash lights would be installed at Hill Park and Bagh-i-Jinnah.
The CDGK has planned following projects for which foreign investors are being approached through foreign consultants.
Karachi Urban Transport Scheme: Revitalization of Karachi Circular Railway, introduction of 200 large buses on urban routes, development of Inter-city terminal facilities, development of local terminal facilities, Karachi Light Rail Mass Transit Project, Priority-1 Corridor (Tower to Sohrab Goth), development of motor vehicle inspection system in private Sector, development of Car Parking Garages, installation of chairlift and wheeler train at Safari Park, integrated solid waste management system, development of beaches/creeks, installation of desalination plant, etc.
In his budget speech, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan said that despite resource constraints and multiplied problems, an attempt has been made to compile a budget catering the needs and expectations of all sections of society.
For promoting arts and culture, he said, the Atiya Faizi Rehmeen Art Gallery, Fine Art Library and Exhibition Hall will soon be opened to public, for which funds have been allocated in the budget.
Giving details of the last year performance of city government, Naimat praised the performance of city council and said that it was not the council of landlords, but majority of its members belong to the middle class and their problems were the same as faced by the majority of citizens.
Referring to the non-payment of honoraria to the elected councillors, the Nazim declared in an unequivocal term that all council members would get their right. He demanded that they must be paid along with arrears without any further delay.
He expressed hope that Sindh government would resolve this important issue immediately so that the city’s elected representatives could serve the people with full devotion.
He pointed out that last year, he had presented a budget of Rs20.50 billion, but the revenue targets could not be achieved because of adjustments on account of taxes by provincial government like property tax and octroi tax.
He hoped that with the new police reforms and ordinance, the conditions would improve and there would be an important role of UC Nazims in the new system.
Naimat claimed that what delighted him most was the approval of development fund of over Rs660 million for UCs in the budget.
He demanded that the Sindh government should lift ban on jobs imposed since 1997, as people were facing problems particularly because of shortage of staff in hospitals and educational institutions.
Describing the city’s transport problem as ‘a very complicated one’, he said that 16 private companies had been registered in this regard, as a result of which over 6,000 buses would come to Karachi during the next year involving an investment of Rs15 billion with provision of employment to several thousand persons.
To develop a train system from New Sabzi Mandi to MW Tower, he said that six international companies had shown interest in the scheme, involving an investment of Rs25 billion. He informed that work on this project would start in December 2003.
He said that 470 modern bus stops would also be constructed in Karachi with Rs250 million.
For construction of quality roads and flyovers, he said that work had been started on 350 schemes, most of which had been completed.
The City Nazim informed that 40 per cent of the city government budget had been allocated for health and education.
In health sector, he said that sewerage system of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital was being improved with Rs30 million. A new well-equipped cardiovascular institute would be set up for which Rs60 million had been earmarked. The facility of free anti- rabbies injection was being provided in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, while the OPD fee was being withdrawn from all city government hospitals. He pointed out that a 250-bed hospital in Landhi had been inaugurated. Plans were afoot for establishment of a number of 50-bed hospitals in many other areas, for which Rs1.792 billion had been allocated, he added.
For improvement in education sector, he said that arrangements were being made for IT education in colleges, free primary education, monthly stipend of Rs100 for girl students of 6th, 7th and 8th classes and Rs200 stipend for girl students of 9th and 10th classes.
