VEHARI, June 26: The district council on Thursday presented a tax-free budget of Rs2.28 billion for the financial year 2003-4.

Giving details, District Nazim Mumtaz Khan Khichi said that Rs424.623 million would be spent on development projects while Rs1,853.123 million on non-development expenditures, including salaries of government employees.

He said the Punjab government would provide a grant of Rs1,927.746 million to the district council.

He said Rs20 million had been set aside for the Health sector. With this amount, computers would be provided to all BHUs and RHCs, eye wards would be set up in all hospitals while Mailsi, Burewala THQ hospitals and Vehari DHQ Hospital would be equipped with CCU units, ultrasound and anaesthesia machines.

At least Rs10.23 million had been allocated for the purchase of medicines for Vehari DHQ Hospital. A sum of Rs19.6 million had been earmarked for the salaries of employees of free dispensaries being functioned under the district government.

The District Nazim said that Rs3 million had been allocated for the Livestock department while Rs45 million would be spent on the purchase of medicines for animals.

As many as Rs32 million had been set aside for the Agriculture department. The amount would be spent on the construction of water channels, repair of tubewells, water management laser unit and other projects.

He said around Rs30 million would be spent on the provision of electricity in rural areas across the district.

He said the education was on the top priority and the district government had allocated Rs60 million for the promotion of education in the district.

Mr Khichi said the district government would spent Rs122 million on the construction of roads and streets, Rs2 million on soil fertility, Rs5 million on agriculture extension, Rs5 million on forest development, Rs45 million on union council level uplift projects on behalf of union council Nazims and Rs20 million on behalf of union council special members.

He said a sum of Rs1 million had been allocated for Deaf and Dumb School, Vehari, Rs5 million for DPS Schools, Vehari, and Burewala.

The district government would spent Rs15 million on government offices and residences and Rs5 million on the development of sports.

Opposition members, including Rana Sarwar, Chaudhry Mumtaz Wattoo and others, criticized the district government for ignoring the areas of opposition members.

WIFE HANGED: A man hanged to death his pregnant wife over a minor issue on Thursday at Chak 95/WB.