THATTA, June 20: The District Council of Thatta approved on Monday the district’s Rs1.835 billion budget for the fiscal year 2005-2006. Addressing the budget session, District Nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi said that Rs342 million had been earmarked for development schemes, Rs780 million for education and a little over Rs280 million had been kept for the health sector.

Mr Shirazi said that 200 teachers would be recruited during the next fiscal year.

He said that during the current financial year, Rs835.738 million were earmarked for disbursement of salaries to various departments, Rs359.656 million for miscellaneous expenses and Rs342 million for development schemes.

He said that during the next financial year, 30 ongoing schemes of the public health engineering department would be completed. The nazim said Rs80 million have been earmarked for renovation and maintenance of link roads, school and hospital buildings and to providing facilities to BHUs and dispensaries.

About the proposed development schemes, he said three new ambulances would be provided to various basic health units and urban health centres of the district.

The session was presided over by the convener, Shaukat Malkani.

DEATH ANNIVERSARY: The first death anniversary of folk singer Jeeji Allah Wasai was commemorated in Mirpur Bathoro on Saturday evening.