July 05, 2006	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 8, 1427

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PESHAWAR, July 4: The City District Government has unveiled a Rs7.01billion budget for the fiscal year 2006-07 with a total expenditure of Rs5.36 billion. City District Nazim Haji Ghulam Ali presenting the government’s revenue receipts and expenditure plan for the next financial year here on Tuesday claimed that the budget entails a surplus of Rs1.65 billion.

Total non-developmental expenditures have been estimated at Rs5.36 billion, while estimated cost on the development side is Rs1.46 billion. No new tax has been introduced in the budget.

Opposition councillors staged a walkout when convener Razaullah Khan did not allow a councillor to table a resolution against the attack on the Peshawar Press Club.

Nazim Riaz Bacha, who led the walkout said that under the Local Government Ordinance, 2001 the district Nazim was not authorised to present the annual budget and the head of the finance and accounts committee should do the same.

He also protested against the ruling PML’s hooligans’ attack on the Peshawar Press Club and asked the council to pass a unanimous resolution to condemn the same.

According to the budget document the district government is likely to receive Rs2.07 billion on account of its share from the divisible pool in accordance with the Provincial Finance Commission award.

Under the head of District Local Fund, an estimated amount of Rs360.23 million would be generated through municipal functions and Rs160.87 million through district grants.

The City Development and Municipal Department (CDMD) would earn Rs4.4 billion in the new financial year against its total income of Rs4.6 billion for the year 2005-06, showing a slight shortfall under this head.

Out of total expenditures of Rs5.36 billion, an amount of Rs3.9 billion would go to the non-developmental sector, while Rs1.46 billion would be spent on development of the district.

Total non-development establishment charges have been estimated to be Rs130.70 million.

The CDMD will spend an amount of Rs400 million on development, Rs100 million on the construction of underpasses on the Grand Trunk Road and total maintenance charges have been estimated at Rs520 million. The CDMD’s establishment charges have been estimated at Rs1.84 billion.

The district government has allocated Rs40.30 million for union councils for development schemes, while Citizens Community Board schemes will get Rs10.40 million. An amount of Rs582,600 has been earmarked for Civil Defence.

District Nazim Ghulam Ali said that despite limited resources the government had increased allocations by 50 per cent to be spent by district council members and allocated Rs20 million for the purpose.

He said that 100 per cent increase had been made in the funds of the union council Nazim for development schemes and Rs40.10 million had been allocated under this head.

Similarly, he said, the district government had increased operational grant of the four town councils by 105 per cent and allocated Rs70 million for the four towns.

He said that a 200kanal land would be purchased for the construction of two recreational parks and Rs10 million had been allocated for land acquisition. An amount of Rs10.60 million had been earmarked for the discretionary fund of the district Nazim, which would be utilised for special development schemes.

The district government had earmarked Rs500,000 for the promotion of local sports teams, while Rs1,000,000 had been allocated for natural disaster and calamity.

The district nazim said that the government would focus on cleanliness and sanitation in the district and a municipal waste recycling plant would be installed. Besides, mechanical sweepers will be purchased to collect dust from the main roads in the city.

An amount of Rs10 million had been allocated for the purchase of tractor trolleys to collect waste, he added.

He said that the government would also purchase an excavator machine and wireless sets at an estimated cost of Rs5 million, while Rs4 million had been allocated for ongoing schemes.