KARACHI, June 27: The Saddar Town Nazim Farooq Faria on Friday presented a surplus budget of Rs 365.795 million for new fiscal year 2003-04 in the Saddar Town Council which met here with Naib Nazim Wazeer Rehbar in the chair.

Out of Rs 365.795 million, an allocation of Rs 88.5 million has been made for development works while Rs 265.3 million has been proposed for non-development expenditure, showing a net saving of Rs 0.24 million.

Presenting the budget, Nazim Farooq Faria said in comparison with the last fiscal year, more funds have been allocated for development works which would be divided equally among union councils. Likewise, for development work in minorities areas more funds have been allocated.

An amount of Rs 10.2 million has been allocated for carrying out development works at the discretion of council members while Rs 2.5 million on the discretion of Citizens Community Board.

Another amount of Rs 28 million had been apportioned for repair and construction of roads and footpaths, Rs10.4 million for streetlights, Rs 7.8 million for development of parks and play-grounds and Rs 2.5 million for construction of the Town Council Hall.

The town expected a share of Rs 291.00 million from the Sindh government and the city government which included share from property tax, advertisement tax, charged parking, conservancy tax and transfer of property tax.

He said Rs 1.956 million have been allocated for distribution as honorarium among council members.

In his speech, Nazim Farooq Faria said the Saddar Town was a VVIP Town with special commercial areas, like Saddar, Boulton Market, Kharadar, Lee Market, Clifton recreational centre, five stars hotel, shopping centres, private and government offices.

The Saddar town also has developed localities, like Bheempura, New Kumharwara, Hasan Lashkari Village, Dhobi Ghat.

During the outgoing fiscal, attempts have been made to carry-out development work and improve hygienic conditions by launching an anti-encroachment drive.

He pointed out that although Saddar Town was the only town in the country which generates a large portion of taxes, while it gets a very small portion from it.

The Nazim said after constitution of new town and dissolution of South Municipality, 27 union councils were formed of which 11 were transferred to Saddar Town, 11 Lyari Town and five Jamshed Town.